The biggest ‘supermoon’ of the year is set to light up evening skies across the world today (13 July), exciting astronomers and amateur sky gazers alike.

Having approached its closest point to us earlier today, a phenomenon that is known as perigee, the moon is at a distance of around 363,300km from the Earth.

The term ‘supermoon’ was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and is inspired by the fact that when a full moon approaches perigee, it appears larger and brighter than usual. The moment when the moon is both at perigee and full is known as ‘perigee syzygy’.

Typically, supermoons appear about 30pc brighter as well as 15pc bigger than average.

According to NASA, the moon will appear full for about three days, from early Tuesday morning through early Friday morning. The best time to view a supermoon is in the late evening after sunset, when the moon is rising from the horizon.

For people in Ireland, the supermoon comes just a month after June’s ‘super strawberry moon’ that gave sky gazers across the island similar views. Contrary to what its name might suggest, a strawberry moon has nothing to do with the colour of the moon.

The supermoon is also known as the Buck Moon in the US, which, according to NASA is inspired by what Algonquin tribes from the north-eastern region of the US used to call it because the timing coincides with the season when buck deer push out new antlers.

In Europe, the supermoon is also known as the Hay Moon because it takes place in the months of June and July – the traditional season of haymaking. For Hindus, Jains and some Buddhists, it is referred to as the Guru Full Moon or ‘Guru Purnima’.

Depending on the region and air quality, supermoons can be accompanied by mild discolourations with reddish or pinkish hues, especially when the moon is rising.

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