A Supermoon phenomenon happens when the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, called its perigee, coincides with a full moon. Watch live video from Palm Cove in Queensland, Australia, as the Full Moon makes its appearance across the nation. The Supermoon, which is the second in a trio of events taking place in rapid succession this year, is set to be visible across Australia overnight but at its peak fullness at 2.53am (AEST).
WATCH LIVE VIDEO FOOTAGE HERE
Dr Brad Tucker from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics said the best time to see the bright moon is when it is rising.
Dr Tucker said: “The peak fullness is at 2.53am, but really when people want to see the bright full moon is when it’s rising.”
He added: “The full moon always rises at sunset.”
“You don’t have to wait around or look at the time. Just remember roughly around sunset go and look at the moon.
“That’s when you get to see it coming on the horizon and the visual effects of it appearing to be bigger look the best.”
The first of the Supermoon trilogy began with the January 21 Super Blood Moon Eclipse, which was only visible from the western half of the globe.
The next Supermoon will fall on the night of March 21 but will not be as spectacular as the one visible tonight.
The Supermoon gets its name from appearing bigger and brighter than usual and is set to be seven percent brighter than any other Supermoon this year.
Like last month’s Supermoon, this Super Snow Moon will take its name from the Native Indians who label every full moon that falls in February as a Snow Moon.
In European culture, the Supermoon was also referred to as a Snow Moon due to the large amount of snow that usually fell in the second month of the year.
Other cultures have also referred to February’s Full Moon as a bone or hunger moon due to the scarcity of food in winter.