What is a supermoon? Is it different from Harvest Moon? Find out!
Supermoon: In a visual treat for skygazers, the first supermoon of 2025 will appear in the sky on Tuesday night (7th October). During this phenomenon, the Earth’s only natural satellite looks up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the normal Moon.
The event will kick off a series of lunar events – three consecutive supermoons in the final three months of 2025.
When will we witness the next supermoon?
While this will be the brightest and largest full Moon of 2025, you won’t have to wait long until the next one, as sky watchers will see two more supermoons this year, on 5 November and 4 December.
What is supermoon?
The Moon orbits around the Earth in an ellipse. In other words, the distance between the two varies throughout the year.
When the Moon is full and is at its closest point to Earth (called the perigee), it is known as a ‘supermoon’.
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When was the term coined?
In 1979, the term was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle to describe full Moons that appear noticeably larger and brighter as they coincide with the Moon’s perigee.
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Are a supermoon and a Harvest Moon the same?
A supermoon is called Harvest Moon when it rises closest to the autumn equinox, traditionally a time for gathering crops. For several evenings in succession, it rises around sunset, creating extra light for farmers working in the fields. The equinox was on 22 September.
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What is the autumn equinox?
During the autumnal equinox, the Earth’s axis is not tilted toward or away from the Sun. On this day, the sun is directly over the Equator. This results in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the world.
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In the Northern Hemisphere, this event marks the beginning of astronomical autumn and is a time of seasonal change, harvest celebrations, and cultural observances.
Don’t forget to witness this amazing phenomenon!
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