The first supermoon of 2025 shines brighter and larger than a typical full moon, with Saturn visible nearby.
ISLAMABAD – The night sky over Pakistan was graced by the first supermoon of 2025 on Tuesday, captivating sky-gazers and astronomy enthusiasts who gathered at popular viewing spots to witness the celestial phenomenon. The event occurred at 7:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST), just hours after the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) clarified reports suggesting the supermoon had risen the previous day.
According to Suparco, the confusion arose from a timing overlap. While the supermoon event occurred at 7:00 PM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on October 6, which was 12:00 AM PST on October 7, the perigee — when the Moon was closest to Earth — had already happened the evening before. The full Moon, when it is fully illuminated, was expected to occur at 8:47 PM PST on October 7.
Suparco officials confirmed that the proximity of the full Moon and the perigee within hours of each other contributed to this year’s first supermoon, making it about 6.6% larger and 13% brighter than a typical full Moon. A supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and nearly 30% brighter than an average full moon.
The supermoon’s impact was felt globally, but its visibility in Pakistan offered a particularly breathtaking experience. The Moon, positioned at a distance of 224,599 miles from Earth, appeared significantly brighter and larger. However, the brightest supermoon of the year is expected in November, when the Moon will be even closer — 221,817 miles away.
Adding to the spectacle, the planet Saturn was visible near the Moon, appearing to the west (left) on the evenings of October 6 and 7. The pair of celestial bodies provided an extra visual delight for sky watchers.
Looking ahead, two more supermoons will light up the skies on November 5 and December 5, offering astronomy enthusiasts a memorable finish to the year.
