An extremely rare blue supermoon has arrived, bringing joy to stargazers across Europe.
The lunar phenomenon occurs only three or four times a year, when the moon is closest to the Earth.
This makes our lunar satellite appear up to 14 percent larger and a third brighter than normal, resulting in truly spectacular images over the next three days when the moon is full.
This lunar appearance is even rarer than a standard supermoon, as it coincides with the first blue moon since August last year and will appear dark red due to ash from wildfires in the atmosphere.
And while this is a beautiful sight for stargazers, unfortunately nothing like this will happen again until 2037.
COPENHAGEN: A plane flies past the supermoon over Copenhagen as a blue supermoon arrives in Europe
ATHENS: The full moon, also called the blue moon, rises over the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion near Athens
GREECE: The term ‘supermoon’ is used to describe when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth
TURKEY: Supermoon rises over buildings in Ankara, Turkey on August 19. There won’t be another one until 2037
SWITZERLAND: A so-called blue supermoon rises over the mountain “Dent d’Oche”, seen from Allaman, Switzerland
DENMARK: The supermoon over Copenhagen, Denmark. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the time of year when the moon is closest to the Earth
A blue moon gets its name not from its color, but from the timing of the full moon in the year.
The moon is also called the Green Corn Moon, the Corn Moon, and the Red Moon because of the reddish color the moon often takes on in summer.
A supermoon means that Earth’s satellite is at its closest to the planet.
During a supermoon, the Moon appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it is at its furthest away.
The term supermoon was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle. It refers to a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is less than 90% of its closest to the Earth.
This is the first of four consecutive supermoons this year. The full moons of September and October are almost equal to the densest of the year.
The moon rises at approximately 7:26 p.m. The best time to see the moon is when the sky is clear.
This means that the cloud cover is low, the weather is favorable and there are no obstacles on the horizon, such as buildings or trees.
JERUSALEM: The supermoon rises behind the Dome of the Rock shrine on the grounds of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City
DUBAI: A view of the full moon as it rises over the skyline of the city with the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
MOSCOW: A supermoon rises over a residential building in Moscow, Russia. This will be the first of four consecutive supermoons this year
TURKEY: Supermoon rises behind the leaves of trees in Gaziantep, Turkey. The best time to catch a glimpse is when conditions are best for clear skies.
GREECE: The first supermoon of the year, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, rises over Palamidi Castle in Nafplio, Peloponnese, Greece
GREECE: The Sturgeon Moon rises over Nafplio, Peloponnese, Greece. The term supermoon was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle
ISTANBUL: The phenomenal moon rises behind the Camlica Mosque and Martyrs Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey
Stunning photos from Turkey show the mosque towering over Istanbul’s 16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque.
Closer to home, it rose above the medieval ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland. British astronomers have planned another one last night.
The bright glow is thought to have been created by wildfires in North America, which sent smoke particles across the Atlantic Ocean and scattered the light in such a way that the moon appeared darker.
But this week the color will fade as clouds and rain clear the atmosphere.
The next Blue Moon – which is determined not by color but by the timing of full moons throughout the year – will be in May 2026.