Supermoon 2016: Get set for biggest and brightest moon in more than 60 years
View of a supermoon in Lowestoft. Photo: Katie Brown - Credit: citizenside.com
On Monday, November 14 take a moment to look up when darkness falls and scan the skies for the moon which will be the closest to Earth it has been since January, 26 1948.
The phenomenon, commonly known as a 'supermoon', occurs when a full moon is at perigree, the point when the moon is closest to Earth, which causes it to appear up to 14pc bigger and 30pc brighter than an average full moon.
This event is set to take place three times at the end of 2016, with one having already happened on October 17 and the final one believed to take place on December 14.
A supermoon like the one expected on Monday won't be seen again until November, 25 2034 according to NASA.
The moon is expected to reach the peak of its full phase at 13.52 GMT when it will pass the Earth at a distance of 356,509km.
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Norfolk-born astronomer, Mark Thompson, recommends heading out of built up, bright areas to get the best look at the lunar event, he said: 'The moon will look at its best when rising, so anywhere with a good clear eastern horizon just after sunset will give great views.'
Various other astronomical events have taken place this year, including a total solar eclipse in March, perseids meteor shower in August and a blood-red supermoon in September.
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Still to come this year is a Geminids meteor shower, which will take place between December 4 and 17 and the winter solstice on December 21 which is the shortest day and longest night of the year.
• Send your supermoon pictures to courtney.pochin@archant.co.uk
