The first supermoon of 2025 will illuminate the night sky on Tuesday, October 7, according to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). The phenomenon marks the first of three supermoons expected this year, offering skywatchers a brilliant celestial display visible across Pakistan and worldwide.
A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear noticeably larger and brighter than usual. Suparco stated that the upcoming event will make the moon appear up to 14 percent larger and nearly 30 percent brighter compared to a typical full moon.
According to an official statement, the supermoon will reach its peak at 8:47 p.m. PKT on Tuesday. It will rise in the east shortly after sunset and set in the west just before dawn, providing an ideal viewing window for astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
“This year’s October 7 supermoon will be at a distance of 224,599 miles (approximately 361,457 kilometers) from Earth, making it 6.6 percent larger and 13 percent brighter than an average full moon,” the Suparco spokesperson said.
The moon will also appear close to Saturn, which will be visible west of it on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Suparco added that the brightest supermoon of 2025 is expected to occur in November, when the moon will be just 221,817 miles (356,980 kilometers) away from Earth. Following this, two more supermoons will appear on November 5 and December 5, continuing the series of rare lunar events this year.
Last September, a rare blood moon was missed by stargazers in Karachi due to heavy cloud cover, while in August 2023, a once-in-a-decade “super blue moon” captivated global audiences. The upcoming October supermoon is expected to deliver another breathtaking night-sky spectacle for viewers across the globe.