October 21-24, 2026: The bright Hunter’s Moon approaches Saturn. Follow the Moon’s changing position and view Saturn’s slightly-tilted rings through a telescope.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:10 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:00 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Hunter’s Moon Passes Saturn
The bright Hunter’s Moon approaches and passes Saturn.
Hunter’s Moon
The next seasonal Full Moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, occurs on October 25 at 11:12 p.m. Central Time. It appears farther eastward each night as the bright gibbous moon waxes.
Saturn Retrogrades
Saturn, nearly three weeks after opposition, is nearly 20° above the east-southeast horizon. It retrogrades – appears to move westward compared to the stars – in front of Cetus. The starfield is unremarkable, without bright stars. Through a telescope, the primary view is toward the southern hemisphere, while the bright, icy rings are tilted about 10° along our line of sight.
Highlights
The moon approaches and passes Saturn during these evenings. Here’s what to see:
- October 21: The bright gibbous moon, 81% illuminated, is about 30° above the southeast horizon. It is nearly 35° to Saturn’s upper right.
- October 22: The moon, 88% illuminated, is less than 30° above the east-southeast horizon, slightly lower than last night’s altitude. It is over 20° to Saturn’s upper right.
- October 23: The nearly Full Moon, 94% illuminated, is over 25° above the east-southeast horizon, 8.6° to Saturn’s upper right. The moon passes Saturn in a wide conjunction after it sets from most of North America.
- October 24: The Hunter’s Moon, 98% illuminated, is over 20° above the east horizon and 8.8° to Saturn’s upper left.
Look for the bright moon as it passes Saturn.