Supermoon and 2 meteor showers scheduled to happen this October

Astronomy enthusiasts can expect a busy month in the skies this October, with a supermoon and two meteor showers set to create striking night-time displays.

On October 6, 2025 the Moon will appear significantly larger and brighter than usual which is also known as a supermoon, according to a recent blog by NASA, the space agency. This will be the first of three Supermoons to be observed in 2025. 

The Supermoon will reach its peak on October 7 at around 9:47 a.m Bangladesh Standard Time (BST).

What is a Supermoon?

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Supermoon occurs when the full Moon coincides with its closest point to Earth in its orbit, known as "perigee". As a result, the Moon can appear up to 14 percent larger and around 30 percent brighter than a typical full Moon.

The event follows closely after the International Observe the Moon Night on October 4, a global initiative encouraging people to engage with astronomy and admire Earth's natural satellite.

However, the Supermoon might not make the Draconid meteor shower, which peaks around October 8, visible to naked eyes due to its brightness.

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The Draconid meteors, which are fragments from the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner and can produce up to 10 meteors per hour in dark skies, as per NASA.

Later in the month, conditions will be more favourable for stargazers. On October 21, the Orionid meteor shower will peak, coinciding with a new moon and creating a darker sky.

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The Orionids, which occur annually as Earth passes through the debris of Halley's Comet, are expected to produce up to 20 meteors per hour, with sightings likely from late evening until early morning, mentions NASA.