ISLAMABAD – Astronomical experts have heralded the upcoming appearance of the first full moon of 2025, which will also be a Supermoon, set to grace the night skies in the first week of October. This celestial event marks when the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth, creating a spectacular visual display.
According to the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), the first supermoon of the year will be visible globally, including across Pakistan, on October 7.
The Perigee Phenomenon: Bigger and Brighter
The phenomenon known as a supermoon occurs when the Moon reaches its perigee—the point in its elliptical orbit nearest to Earth—while simultaneously being in its full phase. This proximity causes the lunar disk to appear significantly larger and brighter than usual.
Suparco officials confirm that the October 7 supermoon will appear 14% larger and a stunning 30% brighter than an average full moon. On the night of the event, the Moon will be approximately 224,599 miles (361,400 kilometres) from Earth.
This event will be the first supermoon in 11 months, with the last one having occurred in November 2024.
The Supermoon Cycle
Typically, three to four supermoons occur each year. Following the October spectacle, additional supermoons are anticipated later in the year:
- November 5, 2025
- December 5, 2025
A fourth occurrence is also expected in early January 2026, though it will fall outside the formal 2025 cycle.
Interestingly, experts note that when a supermoon rises near the horizon, it can appear even larger to the naked eye due to an optical illusion—a fascinating psychological effect that has captured the imagination of sky-watchers for centuries.
