The moon illuminated the water in Larnaca, Cyprus
By Andre Rhoden-Paul & Rachel Russell
BBC News
The Moon has left people gazing up at the sky after appearing brighter and larger than usual on Monday evening.
July’s supermoon is appearing full for up to three days, according to Nasa.
Known as a Buck Moon, it is closer than normal in its orbit around the Earth.
This is because the Moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle due to the Earth’s gravitational pull; instead it is elliptical, like an elongated circle or oval.
Because of this, there are times in the Moon’s 27.32-day orbit when it is closer to the Earth and other times when it is further away.
A supermoon happens when the Moon is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit and also in its full Moon phase.
The full Moon in July was given the Native American name of Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer are in full growth mode in July, according to the Royal Observatory. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers.
The Moon reached peak illumination at 12:39 BST (07:39 Eastern Time) on Monday, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The Almanac, which has published astronomical data for centuries, said the Buck Moon would orbit closer to the Earth than full Moons we have already had this year.
August’s full Moon will be the only supermoon closer to the Earth this year, the publication said.
Here are some pictures of the Buck Moon from around the world on Sunday and Monday:
Image source, Reuters
The full moon rises above the Ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, in Sounion, Greece, on Monday
Image source, Reuters
The full moon rising behind the Iguazu Falls, on the Argentine side of the Igauzu River
Image source, PA Media
The Buck Moon lit up the blue sky as it rose over St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear on Sunday
Image source, Jack March/BBC Weather Watchers
The dark sky in Stockingford, Warwickshire, was illuminated by the orange tones of the Buck Moon
Image source, Reuters
A tractor ploughs a field underneath the supermoon near the city of Ashkelon, in southern Israel, on Monday
Image source, PA Media
The supermoon rises over Seaton Sluice in Northumberland
Image source, EPA
A full moon sets behind the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey
Image source, Getty Images
New York City’s iconic Statue of Liberty shared the skyline with the Buck Moon
Image source, Getty Images
A plane was captured flying across the Buck Moon in the sky above Paris
Image source, Getty Images
Spectators watching a sports game do not appear to notice the full moon behind them in Kutaisi, Georgia
Image source, AFP
The moon rose above the Virgin Mary Chaldean Cathedral in Iraq’s Basra city
Image source, Getty Images
The supermoon was spotted next to a street lamp light in L’Aquila, Italy
Image source, Getty Images
A bird flies past the Buck Moon as it rises in the sky over a lighthouse at the port of Malaga, Spain
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