The full Moon in October is not only a Harvest Moon but a supermoon, meaning it will be the biggest and brightest of 2025 so far.
It will be the first of three upcoming supermoons that light up UK skies this year, and is visible to the naked eye, making it a great introductory option for those wanting to get into stargazing.
Here is when it will be visible and how best to spot it.
What is a Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is the specific name given to the full Moon that is closest to the autumnal equinox, which fell on September 22 and is when both day and night are the same length.
While it typically falls in late September, and fell on September 18 last year.
This year is is extremely rare that the Harvest Moon is in October.
As Secret London explains: “In 2025, astronomical conditions make the October full Moon closer to the equinox, a timing that only happens about 18 times between 1970 and 2050.
“The last late Harvest Moon like this was in 1987.”
The Harvest Moon is understood to have gotten its name due to helping farmers collect their harvest during the autumn.
28th September 2015
Ten years ago today all photographers in Cambridge were out shooting the ‘Blood Supermoon’ pic.twitter.com/ccwUMRwGn6— A Cambridge Diary (@acambridgediary) September 28, 2025
The Moon causes brighter early-evening moonlight and extra light in the evenings, lighting up fields to help with the process.
What is a supermoon?
As explained by the Royal Museums Greenwich: “The distance between the Moon and the Earth varies, because the Earth is not right at the centre of the Moon’s orbit and the Moon’s orbit is not a circle (it’s an ellipse).
“The moment when the Moon is closest to the Earth is called a lunar perigee. When the Moon is furthest away, it is known as a lunar apogee.
“If the lunar perigee occurs very close to a full Moon, then we see what is sometimes referred to as a supermoon.”
When it does appear bigger, this is typically what’s called a ‘moon illusion’.
A supermoon will be visible over the UK soon(Image: Getty Images)
“This is the term used to describe how a low-down full Moon looks absolutely enormous, when in fact its apparent size in the sky isn’t any bigger than when the Moon is higher up, the BBC explains.
This month’s supermoon will be the first in the UK since November 2024 and the next will rise at the beginning of November 2025.
How to see the Harvest supermoon above the UK tonight
The Harvest Moon will occur on Tuesday, October 7, at 4.48pm.
As with any night sky viewing, it is best to view it away from light pollution.
Tips for Night Sky Photos on Your Phone
The BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine says that around the time of year that the Harvest Moon appears, the Sun goes down almost due west, so the full Moon will be rising near due east.
It adds that as it rises that it may have an ochre red colour, especially when it’s low on the horizon.
The publisher recommends using at least a 200mm or longer focal length lens or telescope to capture any detail in your photographs of the Moon.
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It says: “The easiest way to do this is to use a long focal length lens or telescope with a DSLR fitted.
“Alternatively, if you have a steady hand, afocal photography (the technique where you point a camera or smartphone down the eyepiece) can work surprisingly well.”
Capturing more detail can be done by super-saturating your shots, the publisher says.
