Moon Phase on October 6 2025
On October 6 2025, the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with an illumination of approximately 83 percent as of the latest public ephemeris data. The Moon rises in the mid-afternoon and sets after midnight, making it visible for most of the night. This phase occurs roughly 7 days after the New Moon, placing the Moon east of the Sun in the sky. The exact moment of maximum illumination is not on October 6 but on October 7 2025 at 19:48 UTC, according to the United States Naval Observatory data.
The Moon's apparent diameter on October 6 2025 is about 31.7 arcminutes, making it slightly larger than average in the sky. This is because the Moon is approaching perigee, its closest point to Earth in the current lunation. The distance from Earth is approximately 367,000 kilometers, which is about 30,000 kilometers closer than the average distance. The combination of a high illumination and a relatively large apparent size makes the Waxing Gibbous Moon a notable target for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers.
Key Astronomical Details and Visibility
The Moon's ecliptic longitude on October 6 2025 is roughly 145 degrees, placing it in the constellation Pisces. The ecliptic latitude is slightly north of the ecliptic plane, at about 2.1 degrees. The Moon's right ascension is approximately 01h 22m, and its declination is around +7 degrees. These coordinates mean the Moon is well placed for viewing from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, though it appears higher in the sky for observers in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere.
For observers in New York, the Moon rises at approximately 15:42 local time and sets at 03:14 the following day. In London, moonrise is around 16:10 and moonset is near 03:50. In Tokyo, moonrise is at about 12:35 and moonset at 23:48. The Moon is above the horizon for roughly 11.5 hours on this date. The exact times vary by a few minutes depending on the observer's precise location and local horizon obstructions.
Related Celestial Events and Context
The Waxing Gibbous phase on October 6 2025 precedes the Full Moon on October 7 2025, which is sometimes called the Hunter's Moon in the Northern Hemisphere. The Hunter's Moon is the first Full Moon after the Autumnal Equinox. The next major lunar phase is the Waning Gibbous, which begins immediately after the Full Moon. The lunar day on October 6 2025 is day 8 of the current synodic month, which started with the New Moon on September 29 2025.
For financial markets, the lunar cycle is sometimes referenced in seasonal trading patterns, though no direct causal link to market moves has been proven. The October 6 2025 lunar data can be cross-referenced with other astronomical calendars for planning observations or educational purposes. Detailed data is published by the United States Naval Observatory and the Astronomical Applications Department of NASA.