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Tonight’s supermoon is just the beginning of an epic celestial line-up

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Australia is in for an astronomical end to the year.

Get ready Australia, the first supermoon of 2025 is lighting up our skies tonight. Known as the harvest moon, it’s also the beginning of a months-long lunar spectacle, with several more celestial events on the near-horizon.

What is a harvest moon?

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
The harvest moon gets its name from the northern hemisphere’s autumnal equinox. (Image: Dave Xu/Unsplash)

The harvest moon gets its name from the northern hemisphere, representing the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox. Its bright light once helped farmers work late into the night, gathering their crops in time for a new season.

Characterised by its fully formed face and luminous orange glow, the harvest moon is also classified as a supermoon. And yes, this is different from a regular full moon. Just like Earth orbits the sun once a year, the moon orbits Earth roughly once a month. During this 27-day journey, sunlight hits different parts of the moon as it moves, taking it from a thin crescent to a perfect sphere or a full moon.

A supermoon only happens when that monthly full moon is also at its perigee – the point in its orbit closest to Earth. Sounds a bit complicated, right? In simple terms, a full moon is when the moon appears fully lit, but a supermoon is when it’s fully lit and at its closest point to Earth making it look bigger and brighter – like tonight!

How to see it

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
The moon appears at its largest near the horizon. (Image: Film Plus Digital/Unsplash)

When it comes to most astronomical events, the southern hemisphere (and Australia in particular) doesn’t have too much luck. But tonight, the scales are firmly tipped in our favour. The harvest moon will be very easy for us to see – as long as it’s not overcast. It will rise around sunset in the eastern sky and will be visible all night before setting in the west come sunrise.

While the moon will technically reach peak fullness around 3:45am on Wednesday, it will appear at its largest during dusk on Tuesday due to a phenomenon called ‘moon illusion’. This trick of the eye makes the moon appear bigger when it is low on the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky, a visual effect photographers should take full advantage of.

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Other upcoming celestial events

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
Australia is in for a months-long lunar spectacle. (Image: Ganapathy Kumar/Unsplash)

Our night sky has truly taken centre stage this year, from meteor showers like Eta Aquariids and the Perseids to a breathtaking strawberry moon in June and our first blood moon since 2022. And while the harvest moon might be stealing the spotlight tonight, it’s just the beginning of an epic celestial line-up.

Over the next three months, multiple astronomical events will light up our skies. After tonight’s harvest moon, there will be not one, but two more supermoons this year – both named after seasonal events in the northern hemisphere.

On 5 November, we’ll be treated to the Beaver Moon. Its name is drawn from Native American folklore, a symbol of the busy beavers readying their homes for winter’s arrival. Come 4 December, the third and final supermoon of 2025 will rise. Known as the Cold Moon, it marks the arrival of the north’s coldest and darkest months. For us, it’s more of a farewell!

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN)
C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was only discovered a few weeks ago. (Image: Adam Block)

But that’s not all. A recently discovered comet known as C/2025 R2 (SWAN) will be passing Earth this October. While you’ll need binoculars to catch a glimpse of its bright green glow and exceptionally long tail, it’ll definitely be worth it, as SWAN won’t be back for another 600 years.

The excitement continues into 2026, with another supermoon scheduled for January and a total lunar eclipse in March. Best of all, you should be able to catch every single one from your balcony or backyard. It truly is a great time to be an Aussie astronomy lover.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Can’t handle the cold? Hamilton Island serves a slice of summer in winter

(Image: Hamilton Island)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    When the winter chill settles in, an escape to Hamilton Island’s year-round tropical shores is the only acceptable coping mechanism.

    As a heliophile with the cold tolerance of a Mediterranean house cat, the arrival of winter tends to spark a particular panic. How will I survive? Must I really start layering? What do you mean, Aperol season is over? But there are far better ways to spend the cooler months than sulking in the depths of your doona.

    Enter, Hamilton Island. With its year-round sunshine and permanent on-holiday atmosphere, this Whitsundays favourite promises a veritable slice of summer in winter.

    Think salt-stiff hair and the smug pleasure of devouring seafood beside the water while friends back home are defogging their windscreens. Here’s why Hamilton Island should figure into your winter plans.

    1. Year-round summer weather

    A woman hiking along the Passage Peak trail on Hamilton Island.
    Hike under sunny winter skies on Hamilton Island. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

    In the crisper months, Hamilton Island offers perfectly mild, sunny weather (17-24°C) that lends itself to morning swims and afternoon spritzes. Better still, you can enjoy the island’s outdoor adventures – from hiking to mountain biking – without the humidity or rain you’ll often find in summertime. With direct flights from most major Australian cities offering ease of access, Hamilton Island is the ideal place to flee the cold.

    2. Getting active without the humidity

    A buggy parked overlooking Hamilton Island’s golf course, with sweeping views of the sea at Whitsundays in winter.
    Zip around Hamilton Island by buggy. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Whether you’re hiking up to Passage Peak or exploring the island by buggy, tropical Queensland humidity is nobody’s friend. The one way to guarantee you will avoid the inevitable stickiness and fluffy hair? Visit during winter. There’s plenty to be enjoyed, from sunrise yoga at The Sundays (exclusive to guests of The Sundays) to playing golf on Dent Island.

    3. Hamilton Island Race Week

    Yachts racing across the sparkling Whitsundays during Hamilton Island Race Week.
    Feel the thrill of Hamilton Island Race Week. (Image: Salty Dingo)

    Taking place in August, Hamilton Island Race Week is a destination in its own right that attracts spectators and racers from around the globe. Boating enthusiasts and thrill-seeking holidaymakers flock to the island, which is palpably energetic as the first yachts set off for Dent Passage from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The annual action-packed week, taking place from 15 to 22 August in 2026, offers an exciting calendar of on- and off-water events – spanning everything from celebrity chef dinners to golfing comps and wine tastings.

    4. Best time for snorkelling

    A woman snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
    Explore Hamilton Island’s winter waters. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

    While the crowds on Hamilton Island may disperse with the cooler weather, the marine life certainly doesn’t. Winter is widely considered one of the best times to snorkel and dive in the Whitsundays.

    It’s down to a number of reasons: excellent water visibility, higher chances of seeing whales as they migrate north and – best of all – no nasty stingers. This means no need to wear those notoriously unflattering full-body wetsuits visitors have to wear in warmer months. On top of all this, you’ll find calm seas ideal for sailing and Great Barrier Reef tours.

    5. Fewer crowds

    People kayaking.
    Experience a quieter Hamilton Island on a kayaking adventure. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Winter is often the quietest time to visit Hamilton Island, with the peak season crowds thinned to a relaxed trickle. You can snorkel or dive straight off the reef-laced waters of Catseye Beach, then swap fins for a buggy and zip between One Tree Hill, the marina and sunset cocktails without the usual summer queues. Active days stretch from kayaking, sailing and jet skiing to hopping over to famous Whitehaven Beach to witness those breathtaking white swirls of silica sand. You won’t have to elbow your way to the front of the crowd to get a good snap.

    6. Delicious dining

    The interiors of Bommie Restaurant, featuring modern coastal design with warm lighting and elegant detailing.
    Treat yourself to Bommie Restaurant’s fine dining featuring fresh, seasonal Aussie produce. (Image: Nikki To)

    The food on Hamilton Island tastes just as good any time of year, and winter is still perfect weather for sundowners. Start with an iced tea Negroni at harbourside Bommie Deck, before transitioning to Bommie Restaurant for a fine-dining feast centering on seasonal Aussie ingredients. Or perhaps enjoy a more casual poolside evening at Sails Restaurant, where plates of chermoula chicken skewers, baked cauliflower steak and crispy sumac squid come served with ocean views. From family-friendly pub meals to elevated wine tastings, there’s something for everyone.

    5. Clear skies for idyllic views

    The golden hour across the Whitsundays in winter.
    End your day with golden Hamilton Island sunsets over the water. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Never let a cloud rain on the parade of Hamilton Island’s spectacular scenery. Winter brings clearer skies and more stable weather to the Whitsundays, meaning your picture-perfect sunset at One Tree Hill is likely to remain that way. And after putting in the legwork to hike to a scenic lookout, the last thing you want is a vista hidden behind low cloud and haze.

    To learn more about travelling to the Whitsundays in winter, visit hamitlonisland.com.au.