Jul 13, 2014

A “supermoon” rose above cities from Los Angeles to London on Saturday night, the first of three times this year the full moon will orbit nearer the earth and appear unusually large and bright.

The supermoon is technically known as a “perigee moon,” and occurs when the moon is full as it reaches perigee, the point of its orbit closest to the earth, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a statement. It looks largest when it’s closest to the horizon – an optical illusion.

“However, if it gets people out and looking at the night sky and maybe hooks them into astronomy, then it’s a good thing,” Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory, said on NASA’s website.

A 2013 supermoon was 14 percent bigger and 30 percent more luminous than the average full moon of that year, NASA said.

Two additional supermoons are expected in 2014, one on Aug. 10 and another on Sept. 9, NASA said. August’s supermoon is expected to be the most remarkable of the year. — Reuters

: The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz, July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

: A stork is silhouetted against the Supermoon in its nest in downtown Arriate, in the southern Spanish province of Malaga early July 13, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

: Clouds pass in front of the Supermoon early on Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Olathe, Kan., as it nears its closest point to the earth, called perigee. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT)

: Clouds pass in front of the Supermoon early on Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Olathe, Kan., as it nears its closest point to the earth, called perigee. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT)

: A woman takes a photo of the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

: A man takes a photo of the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

: People stand and look at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

: The Supermoon rises over downtown Kansas City, Missouri July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. (Dave Kaup/Reuters)

: People stand and look at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

: People stand and look at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

: People stand and look at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

: The moon is pictured one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon as it rises over buildings in Long Island City, seen from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

: A man is reflected in a car window as he looks at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

: People stand and look at the moon one day ahead of the Supermoon phenomenon from a bridge over 42nd St. in the Manhattan borough of New York July 11, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

: Aircraft passes in front of a Supermoon rising over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Blair Gable

: A Supermoon is seen over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Blair Gable

: Aircraft passes in front of a Supermoon rising over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Blair Gable

: Aircraft passes in front of a Supermoon rising over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Blair Gable

: The moon shines early on Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Olathe, Kan., as it nears its closest point to the earth, called perigee. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT)

: The “supermoon” is seen rising above the Washington, DC skyline on July 12, 2014. The “supermoon” occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to the earth. It is the first of three “supermoons” to appear this summer. AFP Photo/Mandel Ngan

: The “supermoon” is seen rising above the Washington, DC skyline on July 12, 2014. The “supermoon” occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to the earth. It is the first of three “supermoons” to appear this summer. AFP Photo/Mandel Ngan

: The so-called Supermoon, or perigee moon, rises behind the historic Mount Wilson Observatory on July 12, 2014 at Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest northeast of Los Angeles, California. The observatory founded by George Hale houses the 60-inch Hale telescope, built in 1908, and the, formerly world’s largest, 100-inch Hooker telescope built in 1917. The perigree moon appears slightly brighter and larger on its closest orbits to the earth and will occur three times this year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

First ‘supermoon’ of 2014 makes debut over summer skies

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