Dazzling supermoon illuminates skylines around the world

Harry Sekulich

Sky-watchers across the globe were treated to a supermoon this week, appearing brighter and larger in the evening sky.

A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its perigee in orbit, meaning it is at its closest point to the Earth.

This is a special supermoon known by multiple names.

It's called the Hunter's Moon because it's the first full moon in October. The name harks back to historic preparations for winter in the northern hemisphere, where people would hunt and preserve meats.

It's also called Harvest Moon, designated to the full moon that rises closest to the autumn equinox (22 September). Its nickname recalls a time when farmers would use the moon's brightness to collect crops in the evening.

The bright supermoon sitting at the tip of the Eiffel Tower in ParisAnadolu via Getty Images

Eiffel Tower, Paris

A massive supermoon hovers above windmills on a hill in Ciudad Real, Spain, in the early evening skyEPA

Campo de Criptana in Ciudad Real, Spain

A yellow-ish bright supermoon pops up behind a mountainscape bordering the city of Taipei.EPA

Taipei, Taiwan

Supermoon appears in between two US flags, and above US Capitol building in a long shot view of the National Mall.Reuters

National Mall, Washington DC

A flying passenger plan is dwarfed by a sepia-tinged brilliant supermoon Reuters

The view of a plane flying over London

The supermoon perspective shot showing the moon on the tip of the Light Pyramid in Campbell Park, Milton Keynes.Reuters

Light Pyramid in Milton Keynes, UK

The supermoon also sparkled on Monday night, lighting up China's night sky during the Mid-Autumn festival.

The full supermoon against a dark night sky, floating above a well-lit, ornately designed pavilion in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.Getty Images

Jiming Pavilion in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China.

The supermoon lights up against a black blue sky, in focus, above an out-of-focus red and white building.Getty Images

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province of China

The supermoon appears behind the statue of liberty as the sun goes down over New York City, washing the city in a pinkish glowGetty Images

The Statue of Liberty, New York City also lit up on Monday evening

Did you miss the supermoon?

Or did those rude clouds block the view?

Fear not - another two supermoons are expected in November and December.

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