Brightest supermoon in 70 years dazzles skygazers

The moon was 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual

The most spectacular supermoon since 1948 will light up the sky, appearing 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.

Skygazers were making for high-rise buildings, ancient forts and beaches in an attempt to get the best views. Picnics were being organised all over the world to watch the supermoon rise.

Photographers and skygazers headed to the best viewing spots in Asia, where the phenomenon was visible first, hoping that cloudy skies and the perennial pollution that blights many of the region’s cities would not spoil the fun.

Prof Tim O’Brien from the University of Manchester advises skywatchers to look to the east, where the Moon rises, for the best view.

Thousands of people headed to Bronte beach in Sydney to witness the event, but clouds largely spoiled the party. But in Queensland and Western Australia the supermoon lit up the night sky.

In Thailand, astrologers were variously predicting the supermoon would bring disaster or great fortune.

Skygazers took to high-rise buildings and beaches to get a glimpse of supermoon in Pakistan and other Asian countries too.

What is supermoon?

When the moon is full as it makes its closest pass to Earth, it is known as a supermoon. The phenomenon happens when the moon is full at the same time as, or very near, perigee — its closest point to Earth on an elliptical,
monthly orbit.

A month after the mega-supermoon, another supermoon will rise on December 14. The last time the moon sailed this close to Earth was on Jan. 26, 1948, when it came 30 miles closer. The next time won’t be until Nov. 24, 2034, when the distance between the two bodies will be 40 miles less.

Here are a couple of tweets of the Supermoon:

Supermoon in pictures sighted across the globe: