The moon has come closer to Earth than at any other time since 1948. Sky gazers around the world are congregating near landmarks, on beaches and atop tall buildings to take a look.
The ‘supermoon’ reached its brightest in Asia on Monday evening.
The Moon was closest – only 221,524 miles (356,509km) away – at 11:21 GMT.
![The moon rises over an upper portion of the Boudha stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, 14 November 2016](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/1165/production/_92435440_92bcc242-d08e-4983-bad1-979bb163c6ef.jpg)
![A jet plane flies across the moon seen from Beijing, China, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/F8A5/production/_92435636_3e3b5d0f-3261-4a1f-8049-e6e2dad75163.jpg)
![Cambodian people watch as the](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/82AD/production/_92435433_dfc98fb8-ceed-4ddb-992b-f6bd192442ed.jpg)
The moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse, not a circle, so it is sometimes closer to the Earth than it is at other times.
When the perigee – the closest approach – and the full moon coincide, it is known as a supermoon.
This supermoon was best seen in North America early on Monday, before dawn. The UK’s best chance to see it will be on Monday evening.
Supermoons appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter when compared with the furthest point the Moon gets to within its orbit.
![The Moon, or supermoon, rising behind the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft at the launch pad at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 14 November 2016](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/146C5/production/_92435638_8eb24101-01d2-445c-9e24-4c7a77183b31.jpg)
![Onlookers gathered at Bondi Beach in Australia in the hope of catching a first glimpse of the supermoon](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/15560/production/_92429378_supermoonsydney.jpg)
![The supermoon appears near the Statue of Liberty, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, in New Yor](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/5C65/production/_92435632_b0f05a31-cd0d-40ca-a1bd-8eed09bccf2e.jpg)
The moon will not be this close again until 25 November 2034 – when it will be even closer, within 221,485 miles.
Those hoping to get a good picture are advised to take a photo of the moon with a reference point, like a landmark, in frame.
If you’re using a digital SLR – use a daylight white balance setting to capture moonlight, Nasa photographer Bill Ingalls advises.
![An Indian man rides a horse past people watching the](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/9D3D/production/_92435204_6e43c1fe-0b41-46b3-9868-2470d82ef096.jpg)
![Waves break over the Kalk Bay Harbour wall in Cape Town, South Africa, 14 November 2061. The effect of the supermoon with massive tidal range has combined with a gale force wind and big swell to create this extreme weather phenomenon.](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/EB5D/production/_92435206_f19c6914-a6b0-4be3-8fbc-49b5225bb05e.jpg)
![The moon rises over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/4F1D/production/_92435202_ca5ed099-0aa0-44f0-9a0f-b79636b94850.jpg)