Stargazers around the world have been enjoying the spectacular sight of a supermoon lighting up the sky tonight, with stunning pictures showing the bigger and brighter moon lighting up landmarks.
The spectacle is the first of two impressive lunar events in August, a rare phenomenon which won’t happen again until 2032, so it’s not one to miss.
August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, stemming from the increase in sturgeon fish in North American lakes at this time of year.
The lunar spectacle became visible at dusk on August 1, when the moon was at its closest point to Earth due to its elliptical orbit meaning its distance away varies.
Striking images of the awe-inspiring sight have emerged from across the globe tonight, with skywatchers in India, Cyprus and elsewhere snapping pictures of it as night fell.
INDIA: August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, pictured here over Siliguri
MALTA: The Sturgeon Supermoon rises behind the steeple of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral and the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta
TURKEY: The Sturgeon full moon rises behind Istanbul’s Camlica Mosque on August 01, 2023 in Istanbul
GREECE: The full moon rises behind the ancient temple of Poseidon at cape Sounion, south of Athens
CYPRUS: A picture shows the supermoon rising between arches at a McDonald’s branch in Nicosia
TURKEY: The Sturgeon full moon rises behind Istanbul’s Camlica Mosque
GREECE: The full moon rises over the archaeological site of Acropolis and the ancient temple of Athena Nike, in Athens
TURKEY: Rising in the east at a distance of about 226,000 miles, the supermoon will be visible shortly after sunset
Don Pollacco, professor of physics at the University of Warwick, said: ‘Supermoons occur when the moon is closest to the Earth.
‘Consequently, the moon can look bigger (10-15 per cent) and brighter (25-30 per cent).
‘One thing to note, though, is that when the full moon is rising it can look bigger than normal.
‘This is partly due to the Earth’s atmosphere and also an optical illusion, such as seeing the moon next to trees.’
Rising in the east at a distance of about 226,000 miles, the supermoon will be visible shortly after sunset.
Prof Pollacco said: ‘To see the supermoon, look east after sunset and if you have a clear horizon, it should be obvious.
CYPRUS: A sturgeon supermoon rises behind the Liberty Monument in Nicosia
IRAQ: The supermoon rises over the Al-Ahrar Bridge, in central Baghdad
PAKISTAN: A full Sturgeon supermoon rises behind clouds as seen from Islamabad
KUWAIT: A commercial airline aircraft flies before the rising ‘sturgeon supermoon’ above Kuwait City
ITALY: Traffic passes below the supermoon as it lights up Rome’s Colosseum and the Roman Forum
INDIA: A Sturgeon supermoon rises beside a McDonald’s logo as seen from Jalandhar
JERUSALEM: The ‘sturgeon supermoon’ rises above the Mount of the Olives in Jerusalem
GREECE: A full moon is seen rising over the ruins of ancient Greek god Poseidon in Sounio
KOSOVO: The supermoon rises over the buildings in Pristina
NORTH MACEDONIA: Full supermoon called the ‘Sturgeon Moon’ rises over the cross of an orthodox church in Skopje
ITALY: People take photos of the supermoon as it rises over the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in Rome
‘The moon is so bright that we can see it when it’s not particularly dark or even if the weather isn’t particularly clear.
‘It will be visible all night and set in the west around sunrise.’
A second supermoon will rise later this month, on August 30.
Prof Pollacco said: ‘The moon’s orbital period around the Earth is 29.5 days (so) two full moons are possible in a normal month.
‘The second one is called a Blue Moon and give rise to the expression we use to express rarity in events.’
