Every full moon is a spectacle – but a supermoon can give us a brighter, bigger lunar show unlike any other. You don't necessarily have the same number of supermoons each year – in 2024, we had four, while in 2025 there are just three.
Whether you want to see them with your own eyes or are hoping to capture them on camera, here's everything you need to know for a front-row seat to nature's most majestic lunar shows.
What are supermoons?
Supermoons occur when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, therefore appearing brighter and bigger than other full moons. They usually appear up to 15 per cent brighter and 30 per cent bigger than regular full moons.
When are this year's supermoons?
In 2025, there will be three supermoons: the Hunter's Moon, the Beaver Moon and the Cold Moon. These three full moons take place in October, November and December respectively.
The supermoons will be on 7 October (Hunter's Moon), 5 November (Beaver Moon) and 4 December (Cold Moon).
How to see – and photograph – a supermoon
A clear sky is always preferable to see any kind of astronomical activity, and the same rule applies for supermoons and full moons. Find somewhere remote and rural, with low light pollution and few tall buildings to disturb your view. You'll get a better view of the supermoon if it's a clear night, with little fog.
A telescope or binoculars will help you get an even better view of the sky.
If you want to photograph a supermoon, you can use any kind of camera – as long as you turn the flash off. On your phone, activate night mode and use ambient light to get the best, clearest photo possible of the supermoon. Read our guide to how to take great photos with your smartphone and how to perfect your landscape photography.
Top image: People gather as a full harvest supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor in 2024 (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
