Irish stargazers are set to witness "the brightest and biggest Full Moon they will see in their lifetimes" as the first SuperMoon of 2025 will appear in our skies this week.
Astronomy Ireland has confirmed that the initial instalment of three consecutive SuperMoons will be observable at sunset on Tuesday evening.
The term 'SuperMoon' describes the phenomenon when a Full Moon coincides with the Moon reaching its closest point to Earth during its elliptical orbital path around our planet. This astronomical alignment can result in the Full Moon appearing 30 per cent more luminous and up to 14 per cent more substantial than when positioned at its furthest distance from Earth.
An additional phenomenon known as the 'Moon Illusion' can also cause the Full Moon to appear more imposing in the sky as it ascends, reports the Irish Mirror.
October won't be the sole month featuring a supermoon during this period. Additional occurrences will take place in November and December prior to year's end.
Given that this week's SuperMoon promises to be a remarkable lunar spectacle, Astronomy Ireland seeks to feature photographs captured exclusively from Ireland in a dedicated feature for the upcoming edition of Astronomy Ireland magazine. David Moore, Editor of Astronomy Ireland magazine and the country's most renowned astronomer, has issued a call to all 8 million residents of the island.
"As well as alerting everyone on this island to this wonderful SuperMoon rising on both Monday and Tuesday evenings, we are asking the general public to line up the Moon with interesting objects or landscapes in the foreground and send their best snap to be published in Astronomy Ireland magazine, which will be archived in the National Library of Ireland for all time," he said.
"Camera phones are now very powerful and capable of producing superb night sky photographs like this. We have received many camera phone Moon photographs and other celestial sights like 2024's great Northern Lights displays in May and October of that year."
Mr Moore further added: "As it is rising and low down people can line up the SuperMoon with statues, landmarks, buildings, aircraft, birds, landscapes, mountains, standing stones, ships and seascapes and more to produce stunning photographs which we would be delighted to feature in the pages of Astronomy Ireland magazine."
When is the best time to view October's SuperMoon?
The optimal time to see the SuperMoon is when it is at its peak, but it will appear full for all night and even for a couple of days after.
"So, at sunset, around 7pm Irish time, viewers all across Ireland are going to see a very impressive Moon," said a spokesperson for Astronomy Ireland. "In fact, the brightest and biggest Full Moon they will see in their lifetimes."
The Moon will technically be full on Tuesday morning at 4.48am Irish time, but it will appear 'full' to the naked eye for two or three days either side of this time.
Thus, when the Moon rises at sunset, it will look perfectly full on both Monday and Tuesday, providing people with two opportunities to see the Moon in a hopefully clear sky.
So, what's the best way to view October's SuperMoon?
Your optimal chance of catching this lunar spectacle is to escape city centres and head somewhere with less light pollution, away from buildings that might obstruct your view. Seek out a dark viewing spot facing east, where the moon will rise.
Ensure you're watching at the right time: The best moment to view a supermoon is when it's rising above the horizon, which is when it appears the largest. Sunset is around 7pm tonight.
Consider using binoculars or a telescope: These can help you observe details on the moon's surface that are invisible to the naked eye.