ATHENS, GREECE (REUTERS) - A bright full moon rose on Wednesday (Dec 14) behind Greece's most famous monument, the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis Hill, casting its majestic rays through the ancient columns in the third 'supermoon' phenomenon in 2016.

A full moon is known as a supermoon, or perigee full moon, because it can be as much as 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than usual at its closest point to Earth.

December's supermoon is remarkable as it coincides on the same night as the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. Unfortunately for skywatchers, that will mean that the bright moonlight will reduce visibility "five to ten fold", according to a statement from Nasa, with fewer than a dozen Geminids visible per hour.

The most recent supermoon was in November when the full moon came nearer to Earth than at any time since 1948, according to astronomers. The next time a full moon will come as close to Earth will be on Nov 25, 2034.