Supermoon lights up the skies

THE biggest and brightest full moon of the year has been lighting up the skies as it passed closer to Earth than usual.

The phenomenon, known as a perigee full moon, means the moon appears up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is furthest from the planet.

And the “supermoon”, was likely to bring higher tides.

The Royal Astronomical Society’s Dr Robert Massey said: “When the moon is closest to the Earth and full or new, you get an increase in the tidal pull in the ocean because the gravity of the moon and the sun line up.