NEW YORK — The first supermoon of 2025 illuminated skies around the world on the night of October 6, peaking in brightness during the morning of October 7 (Philippine time). The phenomenon, visible across the Philippines, marked the first in a series of three supermoons this year, according to NASA and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the faintest full moon of the year.
“It’s not really very unusual,” said Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. He explained that while anyone can view a supermoon without special equipment, “if you go out and just look at the moon when it’s very high in the sky, there is nothing relative to it to give you an idea of how big it looks.”
During this event, the moon came within 224,600 miles (361,459 kilometers) of Earth. Skywatchers in the Philippines were able to enjoy the bright lunar display from the evening of October 6 until dawn on October 7.
According to PAGASA, the moon remains bright and nearly full until October 9, giving Filipinos more time to witness the celestial beauty. The agency stated that the supermoon continues to appear large and luminous under clear skies and recommended open areas with minimal light pollution for the optimal viewing experience.
For those who missed this week’s show, NASA said two more supermoons will appear this year one on the night of November 5 and another on December 5, both visible from the Philippines.
The 2025 lunar calendar will continue to offer celestial highlights next year, including two eclipses in 2026 a total lunar eclipse in March, visible across much of Asia, including the Philippines, and a partial lunar eclipse in August, visible across the Americas, Africa, and Europe.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
