Spectacular ‘Supermoon’ lights up skies across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A spectacular ‘Supermoon’ illuminated the skies across Pakistan on Wednesday night, appearing 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.

Residents in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Multan, and Faisalabad witnessed the breathtaking celestial event, with many capturing the moment on their cameras.

In Karachi, skywatchers enjoyed a glimpse of a pink-tinged moon, while in Peshawar, the glowing orb shone in its full splendour.

According to astronomers, a supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the point in its orbit where it is closest to Earth. During this phase, the moon is about 356,980 kilometres away from the planet.

This was the second supermoon of the year, following one observed in October, while the final supermoon of 2025 is expected in December.

A night of natural brilliance

For those wondering, a supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s perigee — the point in its orbit where it comes closest to Earth. This makes the moon look noticeably bigger and brighter, especially when it rises near the horizon.

The November full moon is traditionally known as the “Beaver Moon” — a name rooted in folklore. Some say it refers to the time when beavers were most active in building their winter dams, while others trace it back to early trappers setting beaver traps before the waterways froze.