A dazzling “Harvest Supermoon” — one of the year’s most striking celestial displays — illuminated the night sky over Karachi on Monday, drawing crowds to the city’s beaches and waterfronts eager to capture the lunar spectacle.
This phenomenon occurs when a full moon aligns with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee. The result is a moon that appears significantly larger and brighter than usual.
According to Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, October’s supermoon was approximately 6.6% larger and 13% brighter than an average full moon. It reached its peak at 8:47 p.m. local time (0347 GMT).
Locals flocked to popular spots like Sea View and Clifton Beach, where the glowing moon rose over the Arabian Sea, casting a golden shimmer across the water.
“It’s not every day you get to witness something like this,” said Karachi resident Umair Aslam. “It only happens once a year, so we came out to enjoy the moment, see the supermoon, and take some selfies.”
“We had an amazing time,” he added.
Another observer, Mohammad Qaisar, said the event attracted nature lovers from all over the city.
“For those who love the outdoors and keep their eyes on the sky, the first supermoon of 2025 was a truly enchanting sight,” he said. “It brought joy to everyone who saw it above Karachi.”
SUPARCO noted that this was the first of three supermoons expected in 2025. The next two are set to appear on November 5 and December 5.
The brightest supermoon of the year is forecast for November, when the moon will be just 221,817 miles (357,067 kilometers) from Earth — promising another breathtaking display for skywatchers around the globe.