October is treating stargazers to something sweet ahead of Halloween -- one bright supermoon and two meteor showers, the Draconids and the Orionids.
While the Draconids might be difficult to watch this year because of how big and bright the full moon promises to shine, wait a bit. The Orionids produce more meteors per hour, say astronomers, and will peak toward the end of October, which is special for another reason.
Oct. 4 is International Observe the Moon Night, a time when selenophiles across the globe celebrate the moon with planned events or by simply stepping outside with a pair of binoculars, a telescope, or just gazing up to appreciate the beauty of our lunar satellite.
The moon should already be bright when, two days later, it reaches peak illumination during a rare supermoon.
When is the full moon in October 2025?
Monday, Oct. 6, is when the full Harvest Moon brightens the night sky. It also happens to be the month of a supermoon, when the moon will be slightly closer to Earth. The moon's phases in October are:
* 🌕 Full Moon: Oct. 6.
* 🌗 Last Quarter: Oct. 13.
* 🌑 New Moon: Oct. 21.
* 🌓 First Quarter: Oct. 29.
Why is it called the Harvest Moon?
The full moon closest to the Autumnal equinox is called the Harvest moon. It often falls in September, but every three years or so, the Harvest Moon is in October. Late summer to early fall is a time for harvesting in much of the United States.
Other names for October's full moon
October's full moon is more commonly referred to as the Hunter's Moon. Other names from Native American tribes include the Drying Rice Moon, Freezing Moon and Migrating Moon.
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October's harvest moon is a supermoon
October's full moon will be especially bright and shine for days, even though the "super" in supermoon often has more to do with its proximity to Earth and less, some say, than how it looks in size.
What is a supermoon?
"Supermoons happen when a new moon or a full moon coincides with perigee," writes NASA. That's when the moon is at its closest point to Earth all month.
October's supermoon is the first one of the year, in which the moon will be roughly 224,107 miles away from our planet, according to NASA.
How big are supermoons?
Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year. Visually, that might not leave much of an impression, but the proximity of a supermoon has an effect on Earth, causing higher tides than normal.
Will skies be clear in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the supermoon?
Skies around Central Indiana are expected to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. The low is expected to be around 63, according to the National Weather Service.
What time is the full moon in October 2025 for Indianapolis, Indiana?
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 6:58 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, crossing the meridian at 12:42 a.m. before setting at 7:04 a.m. Tuesday.
You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online.
Draconid meteor shower happens in October during harvest supermoon
As October's supermoon shines overhead, the first of two meteor showers will streak across the northern sky this month.
From Oct. 6-10, you might be able to catch the Draconid meteor shower, which comes from burning debris left by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, according to NASA.
To find the Draconids, look toward the northern sky and find the constellation Draco. If skies are dark, you might be able to see up to 10 meteors per hour. Granted, the supermoon might make viewing difficult.
Not to worry though, say scientists at NASA, because another meteor shower happens in October well after the supermoon has faded.
The Orionids meteor shower from Halley's Comet begin October 2025
A more promising meteor shower -- the Orionids -- will peak Oct. 21, bringing up to 20 meteors per hour, writes NASA, which are debris trailing off Halley's Comet.
When to watch the Orionids
Astronomers say your best bet to catch the Orionids will happen before midnight, Oct. 21, until roughly 2 a.m. This meteor shower will stretch on for another few weeks until Nov. 22, but late October is the best time to watch.
Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
* SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play
* Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play
* Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play
* NASA for iPhone | Google Play
Indiana's best places to stargaze
If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing.
You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International.
Remaining full moons in 2025
* Wednesday, Nov. 5: Beaver Moon
* Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold Moon
Astronomical events happening in October 2025, per NASA
NASA has these skywatching tips for October:
* Oct. 6: Harvest supermoon.
* Oct. 6-10: Draconid meteor shower.
* Oct. 21: Orionid meteor shower peaks (full duration Sept. 26 - Nov. 22).
How to stargaze in Indiana, or anywhere
Experts recommend you do the following to get the most out of the experience:
* Get out of the city. Find a dark location far away from light pollution.
* Give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark
* Avoid looking at phones or bright lights. Face away from the moon if you can.
* Dress comfortably for the weather.
* Bring a bottle of bug spray, a blanket or a comfortable beach chair, then sit back and enjoy the show.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [email protected]. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.