Spectacular pictures show the 'worm' supermoon lighting up night skies around the world and it will only get brighter as it reaches its peak TONIGHT - msnNOW

Spectacular pictures of the 'worm' supermoon have been captured lighting up the night sky by photographers around the world.

The March full moon will reach peak fullness tonight at 5:48pm GMT - but it appeared full from Sunday night and will still be visible through to Tuesday. 

The Worm Moon will be 'spectacularly bright', according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, and appear about seven per cent larger than a normal full moon. 

A supermoon occurs when the full moon nearly coincides with perigee – the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth. 

The near full supermoon sets over London. Also know as the Worm Moon at this time of year - it will be at it's fullest as it rises later today

The first Supermoon of 2020 rises above Tenerife's Teide National Park The Worm Moon can be viewed from Sunday Evening through to Tuesday morning

The moon at 99.0 per cent rises behind One World Trade Center and the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York City at sunset on March 8, 2020

Last night the moon was at 99 per cent and can be seen rising behind One World Trade Center and the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York City as a man stands next to the Hudson River at sunset

The worm moon signifies the oncoming spring and can be seen here next to One World Trade Center in New York - as seen from New Jersey

Here the moon rises behind the spire of One World Trade Center in New York City at sunset on March 8, 2020 as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey

Lady Liberty is framed in front of the orange tinged worm supermoon as it set in New York City on Sunday. The moon is the second supermoon of 2020

8/8 SLIDES

At perigee a supermoon can appear as much as 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than normal, when viewed from Earth, depending on the time of year. 

Full moon names, which are used to describe the supermoons, were historically used to track the seasons and therefore are closely related to nature. 

‘Worm Moon’ is the common name for March’s full moon because at the time it appears the ground begins to soften and heaps of soil left by worms start to appear.

This invites the return of birds to feed, which is seen as a sign of springtime  starting to return after a long winter. 

There will be two additional supermoons this season – April 8, when a ‘Pink Moon’ will be 221,851 miles from Earth, and the ‘Flower Moon’ on May 7, at 224,429 miles away.

WHAT IS A SUPERMOON? 

A 'supermoon' appears to us as a larger-than-usual Moon in our night sky. 

A supermoon takes place when the moon is full and its orbit at its perigee point is closest to Earth.

As the moon orbits in an ellipse its closest point - the perigee - will come very close to earth. The farthest point of the ellipse is called the apogee. 

When a full moon appears at perigee, the moon looks brighter and larger than a regular moon, hence the nickname supermoon.  

The Worm Moon is the second of the supermoons to grace the sky this year, following the ‘Snow Moon’ in early February, so-called as it often coincides with heavy snowfall.

The supermoon on November 14, 2016 was the closest full supermoon since January 26, 1948, and will not be surpassed until November 25, 2034, according to Earth Sky.

The closest full supermoon of the 21st century will occur on December 6, 2052.

Astronomers differ on what they believe constitutes a ‘supermoon’ – however, the original definition as coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 puts it as a full moon or new moon that comes within 90 per cent of its closest approach to Earth.

If possible, the best time to view the full moon is when it is close to the horizon, due to an optical illusion that makes it appear bigger due to its relative size compared to buildings, trees and other objects in the foreground.

Astronomers advise photographers to download apps and maps to track the progress of the moon across the sky, in order to make sightings easier.

FULL MOON NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS 

January: Wolf Moon because wolves were heard more often at this time.

February: Snow Moon to coincide with heavy snow.

March: Worm Moon as the Sun increasingly warmed the soil and earthworms became active.

April: Pink Moon as it heralded the appearance of Phlox subulata or moss pink – one of spring’s first flowers.

May: Flower Moon because of the abundance of blossoms.

June: Strawberry Moon because it appeared when the strawberry harvest first took place.

July: Buck Moon as it arrived when a male deer’s antlers were in full growth mode.

August: Sturgeon Moon after the large fish that was easily caught at this time.

September: Corn Moon because this was the time to harvest corn.

October: Hunter's Moon after the time to hunt in preparation for winter.

November: Beaver Moon because it was the time to set up beaver traps.

December: Cold Moon because nights at this time of year were the longest.

Source: Old Farmer's Almanac   

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2020-03-09 12:56:00Z
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