If you look up to a clear night sky Tuesday evening, a dramatic full moon – seemingly closer and brighter than usual – will be shining.
For Australians, the best viewing of this year’s first supermoon – a “harvest moon” – will be at around sunset, where it will appear large and bright on the eastern horizon.
Supermoons are a rarity, with only a couple occurring each year, making them an exciting event for stargazers.
“This month, the moon is about 6% percent closer than normal,” says Dr Rebecca Allen, a co-director of the space technology and industry institute at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology.
When can I best see the supermoon?
To prepare, look east as the moon begins to ascend above the horizon.
Dr Brad Tucker, from the Australian National University’s research school of astronomy and astrophysics, says the moon will appear largest on the eastern horizon, as the sun sets in the west.
Viewer’s eyes play “tricks” comparing it to other objects on the horizon, which makes it appear bigger than usual.
“Our brain thinks it looks bigger, [and] there are also atmospheric effects that make it look bigger,” Tucker says.
But Allen recommends waiting a little longer, as full moons reach their peak altitude around midnight because the moon is in opposition to the sun at this stage.
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“I recommend anytime from 9pm to 1am,” she says.
“Bonus: Saturn is also high in the sky and while the moon’s light will create a bright environment. Saturn is also being illuminated by the sun, so it will be a pretty sight.”
What makes a moon a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth.
The distance between Earth and the moon can vary by about 45,000 km due to its orbit, Tucker says.
“Sometimes it is closer on average, and therefore appears a bit bigger and brighter, and sometimes further away and a bit fainter,” he says.
Why is it called a harvest moon?
The phrase “harvest moon” originates from the traditional farmer’s calendar in North America, according to Allen.
It is tied to the northern hemisphere’s transition into fall and the harvest season, or autumnal equinox.
“Some people believe it even meant farmers would harvest at night to ensure they gathered the most of their harvest,” she says. “These names remind us of the significance patterns in the sky, such as full moons, played with early agricultural practices.”
Tucker says the US practice of naming full moons is typically “the opposite of what [Australians] are experiencing” – in this case, the spring equinox.
When are the next supermoons?
Tucker says Australians can look forward to a series of spectacular “super” full moons for the next three months, on 5 November, 4 December and 2 January.
“While they may not look drastically different to a normal full moon, full moons are always great to look at,” he said.
A total lunar eclipse – a “blood moon” – will also visible Australia-wide in March 2026.
Why are there multiple supermoons in a row?
The moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle, which is why there are times when its distance is closer to Earth and then further away, Allen says.
“The Earth-moon-sun alignment is not set to change significantly over the next few months, so the conditions for a closer full moon will remain,” she says. “Remember, it takes the Earth twelve months to orbit the sun.”
Tucker uses the analogy of a spinning top as it slows down.
“The wobble in the top starts to occur at the same time or point, and so to does the orbit of the moon and its relationship to its phase,” Tucker says.
• This article was amended on 7 October 2025. An earlier picture caption said the Supermoon could be seen on Thursday when it should have said Tuesday.
