Brightest moon in almost 69 years lights up sky around globe

Photographers from around the world have captured stunning images of the moon as it appeared to be at its biggest and brightest for nearly 70 years.

According to Raymundo, Monday’s supermoon is “one of the closest and biggest in 68 years and won’t happen again until 2034”. Last month’s full moon – on October 16, 2016 – was also a supermoon. Right now the moon is appearing as large and bright as it has in almost 70 years, creating a “supermoon”.

Because the moon is a lot closer, its gravitational pull is a lot stronger and has caused rougher tides; for example, Venice, a city in Italy, flooded today because of it, with waves reaching just over one metre tall.

How it works, is that the moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical so sometimes it is closer and sometimes it’s farther away. The difference between perigee (the closest it gets to the Earth) and apogee (the most distant point on its orbit) is actually only about 10 percent. Supermoons generally appear to be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons. Sunday night’s moon might have appeared full to those glimpsing it with the naked eye, but Monday’s visit will be the real deal.

Randy Attwood of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada points out that the term “supermoon” was not coined by astronomers and that “astronomically, it’s not much of an event at all”.

California: A passenger plane heading to Los Angeles International Airport passes by the supermoon Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.

According to NASA, the moon will become “full within about two hours of perigee-arguably making it an extra-super moon”.

The December full moon is known as the Full Cold Moon because it coincides with the drop in temperatures that the winter brings.

How can I see it? No special equipment is required. RaysWeather.com’s forecast for Monday calls for “decreasing clouds”.

Astronomers say it can be hard to notice that the moon appears brighter than usual.

If you miss it, don’t worry. You’ll only have to wait 18 more years. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.