Rare supermoon illuminates sky over Jersey

Sky-watchers across Jersey were treated to a supermoon on Tuesday night.

A supermoon appears brighter and larger than other full moons in the evening sky and occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth.

The term was first coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle and Tuesday's occurrence was the first time it happened since November 2024.

This supermoon is known by two names - the Hunter's Moon and the Harvest Moon.

It is referred to as the Hunter's Moon because as the first full moon in October, it was a time when historically preparations were made for winter in the northern hemisphere, with people hunting and preserving meats.

It is also known as the Harvest Moon, as it rises closest to the autumn equinox on 22 September, reflecting a time when farmers would use the moon's brightness to collect crops in the evening.