Brightest moon of 2014 shines over Australia
The year's brightest full moon is shining over the world tonight as it makes its closest pass to the Earth for 2014.
According to the Perth Observatory, the moon will reach its fullest at 2.09am tomorrow when it is 356,895km away from the Earth.
The moon rose over Perth this evening in the south-east at 5.25pm.
For those lucky enough to have clear skies, the moon will be visible - and looking bigger and brighter than usual - until it sets tomorrow at 6.52am.
Do you have photos of tonight's moon? Please share them with us here.
The eastern States of Australia are already enjoying the spectacle, with pictures of the moon in clear skies appearing on social networks.
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#supermoon rises over Sydney Harbour @photosSMH #supermoon2014 pic.twitter.com/SuAk3M5rMq
— Janie Barrett (@janie_barrett) August 10, 2014
The year 2014 has five “supermoons”, according to EarthSky.org.
The term supermoon has become popular only in recent years.
Traditionally, the phenomenon was known by astronomers as a perigee full moon. Perigee is the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to the Earth.
The point where it is farthest from the Earth is called apogee. The Earth and the moon were furthest apart in 2014, 406,547 km, on July 28.
The next supermoon will be on September 9.
