Supermoons: a celestial phenomenon

The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
The full moon, also called the "Supermoon" or the Perigee-Syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system, as seen in Singapore. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 
Sydney resident Virginia Maddock watches the supermoon rise off the Sydney beachside suburb of Wanda. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
The full moon descends behind the Nossa Senhora da Penha Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. -- PHOTO: AFP
A woman takes a selfie as the supermoon rises over Tower Bridge in London. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
View of the full moon nicknamed "the supermoon" in Ouro Preto, Brazil. -- PHOTO: AFP
A two-headed eagle, the national symbol of Russia, is seen in front of the supermoon as it rises over the towers of Historical Museum in Moscow. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A supermoon rises through the trees on August 10, 2014 in Spencer, New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
A supermoon rises above the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial on August 10, 2014 in Arlington, Virginia. -- PHOTO: AFP
A supermoon rises over the dome of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Monterrey. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A supermoon rises behind the light on top of the Luxor Hotel and Casino on August 10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the second supermoon or perigee moon as it is also known of the summer, the moon appears 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent bigger than normal. -- PHOTO: AFP

Moon gazers had a cosmological treat on Sunday (Aug 10, 2014) when a supermoon lit up skies around the world.

The event occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit, making it appear much larger and brighter than usual. The Guardian says a supermoon is about 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than normal.

There are three consecutive supermoons this year: The first one was on July 12, and the next one will be on Sept 9. But the supermoon on Sunday was touted as the most "super" one. It's the closest and largest full moon of the year.


Related links:

Five superb facts to know about supermoons

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