First supermoon of 2026 to brighten skies tonight across Pakistan

The first supermoon of 2026, traditionally known as the Wolf moon, will be visible in Pakistan on January 3 and 4.

The first supermoon of 2026, traditionally known as the Wolf moon, will be visible in Pakistan on January 3 and 4, according to a statement issued by Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).

A supermoon happens when the moon comes closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear larger and brighter than usual up to 14 percent bigger and nearly 30 percent brighter than a typical full moon.

Suparco said that in Pakistan, the supermoon will rise at 5:51 pm PKT on January 3, with an illumination of 99.8 percent, and it will remain visible throughout the nights of January 3 and 4.

During this event, which is the final supermoon in the cycle that started in October 2025, the distance between Earth and the moon will be about 362,312 kilometers, making the moon appear 6 to 7 percent larger and up to 10 percent brighter than a regular full moon.

Supermoons usually happen in sequences of three to four consecutive events, and the January 3 supermoon will conclude the current cycle. The next cycle is expected to begin in November 2026.

In 2025, Pakistan saw three supermoons: the first on October 7, the Beaver supermoon on November 5, and the last one on December 4 and 5.