Pakistan to witness first supermoon of 2025 on October 7

The first supermoon of the year will light up skies across Pakistan on October 7, according to the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).

A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. Suparco said this month’s event will make the Moon appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter compared to an average full moon.

At its closest point, or perigee, the Moon will be approximately 361,400 kilometres (224,599 miles) away from Earth. The last supermoon was observed in November 2024.

Suparco noted that when the Moon rises near the horizon, it may look even bigger due to an optical illusion, a phenomenon that has fascinated observers for centuries.

This will be the first of three supermoons expected in 2025, with others set to occur on November 5 and December 5. Another supermoon will take place in January 2026, though it will not be part of this year’s cycle. On average, three to four supermoons occur annually.