A glowing full moon will rise in the eastern sky tonight, marking the first supermoon of 2025. Known as the Harvest Supermoon, it reaches its peak brightness at 11:48 PM EDT on Oct. 6, or 0348 GMT on Oct. 7, when it will appear fully lit as it aligns opposite the sun.
This particular full moon earns the name "Harvest Moon" due to its timing near the autumn equinox. Before the invention of electric lighting, farmers relied on its extended light to bring in crops after dark. The moon's close approach to Earth in its monthly orbit makes it a supermoon -- appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual as it rises.
Saturn will also be visible to the upper right of the moon during the event, adding to the spectacle. The moon will sit near the constellation Pisces, giving stargazers an extra target for telescopes or binoculars.
Viewers across the Eastern United States will see the lunar disk rise just after sunset, glowing with a yellow-orange tint. According to astronomers, this warm color occurs because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light, allowing the red and orange tones to pass through more easily during moonrise.
A 98 percent illuminated waxing gibbous moon rises behind the Empire State Building a day before the Harvest Supermoon as the sun sets in New York City, Sunday evening #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc @EmpireStateBldg #sunset #harvestmoon #moon pic.twitter.com/VGsywz7qSR
-- Gary Hershorn (@GaryHershorn) October 6, 2025
As the Harvest Supermoon rises today, those observing with the naked eye can spot long, bright rays -- known as ejecta -- spreading from impact craters across the moon's surface. These pale streaks stand out against the darker regions, called lunar maria, or seas.
Paul Delaney, a professor of physics and astronomy at York University, noted that while the Apollo landing sites are far too small to be seen from Earth, hobbyists can still locate their general areas on the lunar surface using a spotting guide.
He added that a full moon offers excellent contrast for viewing these historic zones, especially through a telescope or binoculars.