October’s Hunter’s Moon reaches exact fullness at 12:12 a.m. Eastern on Monday, October 26, according to Astronomy magazine’s observing calendar. On Sunday evening it will look essentially full, rising close to sunset. Atlanta’s sunset is around 6:52 p.m. today.
A full Moon is not ideal for photographing craters because the Sun casts very short shadows across the lunar surface. It is, however, excellent for a composition that uses a building, tree line, or city landmark as a foreground element. A long lens compresses the scene and makes the Moon look strikingly large against a distant object.
If you use an iPhone, tap and hold to lock exposure, then drag the exposure slider down so the Moon does not become a featureless white disk. For a camera, meter for the bright Moon and use a tripod only if your shutter speed needs it. The best photograph may be one that shows the setting, not the Moon alone.