Stargazers across the world were treated to a bigger and brighter full Moon than usual on Tuesday night, according to BBC.
This month’s full Moon, dubbed the Sturgeon Moon, lit up the night’s sky as it rose above the horizon shortly after sunset.
It’s the first of two supermoons this month – the next full moon on 30 August will be called a Blue Moon as it the second full moon to appear in one calendar month.
What is a supermoon?
A perigean full moon, better known as a supermoon, happens when the moon is full during the closest point in its orbit around Earth. This gives its appearance an extra pop, making it look up to 8% bigger and 16% brighter than a typical full moon, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
According to NASA, the moon’s typical orbit ranges between 226,000 and 251,000 miles from Earth, but variances can bring it a bit closer or farther away. Only the closest three or four approaches each year qualify as supermoons. The last one was on July 3.
