October’s Hunter’s Moon Peaks at 12:12 a.m. ET as Saturn Glows Nearby

Q: Will the brilliant glow of the Hunter's Moon completely erase the fiery debris of Halley's Comet from our weekend skies?

No. The Hunter’s Moon will significantly reduce Orionid viewing this weekend, but it will not completely erase it. The Orionids — created by debris from Halley’s Comet — are active into early November, though their peak came around 21–22 October. By the time the Hunter’s Moon is full on the night of 25–26 October, moonlight will brighten the sky enough to wash out many of the fainter meteors. That is why forecasts and astronomy guides say the shower will be harder to see, not impossible. The key point is that bright meteors can still punch through full-moon glare if skies are clear and you are away from artificial light. Observers in darker rural locations may still catch a few fast Orionids, especially those with brighter trails. But the display will be much weaker than it would be under darker skies near the shower’s peak. Weather may be just as important as moonlight in the UK. Early Sunday night is expected to offer the best chance of clearer skies in many areas, while northern Scotland faces rain and strong winds from Storm Boelo and cloud may spread more widely later. Anyone hoping to maximize their chances should look from a dark site with a wide view of the sky, allow time for their eyes to adjust, and keep expectations modest. This weekend’s main spectacle is the Hunter’s Moon; the Orionids are more likely to be a faint bonus than a headline show.

3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 23

October’s full Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination at 12:12 a.m. ET on Monday, after rising around sunset and appearing full across Saturday through Monday nights.
A low position near the horizon can make the moon look orange because its light passes through denser air, filtering out shorter blue and violet wavelengths much like a sunset.
Saturn will sit a few degrees south of the moon on Sunday night, though the ringed planet may be harder to spot because of the moon’s brightness.
From Monday to Wednesday, the moon will move toward, eclipse and then pass the Pleiades star cluster, extending this weekend’s skywatching run.
The Hunter’s Moon is the 11th of 13 full moons in 2026, with the final two — November 24 and December 23 — both set to be supermoons.