Stargazers are in for a treat this October as the first supermoon of 2025 makes its grand appearance. The phenomenon, popularly known as the harvest full moon, will illuminate skies around the world in the first week of October — shining brighter, larger, and more golden than any full moon seen so far this year.
The harvest supermoon reached its fullest point on Monday, 6 October 2025, at 23:47 Eastern Time (05:47 on Tuesday, 7 October in SAST).
From South Africa, it was visible shortly after sunset, rising low on the horizon and glowing in warm orange tones before turning silver-white as it climbs higher in the night sky.
What makes it a “supermoon”?
A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit brings it unusually close to Earth while it is completely full.
This makes it appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual. The difference might not sound huge on paper, but when seen with the naked eye, the effect is striking — the moon looks enormous and almost close enough to touch.
NASA explains that this happens because the moon’s orbit around Earth isn’t a perfect circle — it’s slightly oval, meaning its distance from Earth changes as it travels. When a full moon coincides with the closest point in its orbit, the result is a supermoon.
Why it’s called the “harvest moon”
The name harvest moon goes back hundreds of years, to a time when farmers depended on moonlight to work late into the night during harvest season. Because the moon rises only 25 to 30 minutes later each night instead of nearly an hour later like other months, it gives several evenings of bright, early moonlight — just enough to finish collecting crops before the onset of winter.
Unlike most other full moons, the harvest moon isn’t linked to a specific month. It’s determined by its position in relation to the autumnal equinox, which marks the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere.
This year, the equinox took place on 22 September 2025, making October’s full moon the official “harvest” moon.
What you’ll see in the sky
When it first rises, the moon will appear orange or reddish, a colour caused by Earth’s atmosphere scattering shorter blue light waves and letting the longer red ones through.
This creates what many people describe as the “pumpkin moon” look — fitting for the start of October.
For a few nights, the moon will seem almost equally full, giving South Africans several opportunities to enjoy the view, whether from the city, the beach, or the countryside.
This will be the first of three supermoons expected in 2025. The next one — called the beaver supermoon — will occur on 5 November 2025, followed by another later in the year.
To get the best view, astronomers suggest watching from an open space away from artificial lights. The moon will appear largest just after it rises, so early evening is the perfect time to look up.