Buck Moon: July supermoon to appear brighter than usual in the sky this week

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The Full Buck supermoon rises over St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on 2 JulyImage source, PA Media

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The Buck Moon lit up the blue sky as it rose over St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear on Sunday

By Andre Rhoden-Paul & Rachel Russell

BBC News

The Moon will have us gazing at the sky on Monday evening as it appears brighter and larger than usual.

July's supermoon will appear full for up to three days, according to Nasa.

Known as a Buck Moon, it will be closer than normal in its orbit around the Earth.

This is because the Moon's orbit is not a perfect circle due to the Earth's gravitational pull; instead it is elliptical, like an elongated circle or oval.

Because of this, there are times in the Moon's 27.32-day orbit when it is closer to the Earth and other times when it is further away.

A supermoon happens when the Moon is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit and also in its full moon phase.

The full Moon in July was given the Native American name of Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer are in full growth mode in July, according to the Royal Observatory. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers.

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What is a Pink Moon?

The Moon reached peak illumination at 12:39 BST (07:39 Eastern Time) on Monday, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The Almanac, which has published astronomical data for centuries, said the Buck Moon will orbit closer to the Earth than full Moons we have already had this year.

August's full Moon will be the only supermoon closer to the Earth this year, the publication said.

In the UK, the best time to see the supermoon event will be earlier in the night across England, Wales, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, according to BBC Weather Presenter Stav Danaos.

As the night progresses, visibility may lessen as clouds and rain fill the skies for much of central Scotland, he adds. After midnight, an area of cloud and rain will spread across southern parts of the UK too.

Here are some pictures of the Buck Moon from around the world on Sunday and Monday:

Image source, Jack March/BBC Weather Watchers

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The dark sky in Stockingford, Warwickshire, was illuminated by the orange tones of the Buck Moon

Image source, Shutterstock

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The full moon rose above the Ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, in Sounion, Greece

Image source, EPA

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A full moon sets behind the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey

Image source, Getty Images

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New York City's iconic Statue of Liberty shared the skyline with the Buck Moon

Image source, Getty Images

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Spectators watching a sports game do not appear to notice the full moon behind them in Kutaisi, Georgia

Image source, AFP

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The moon rose above the Virgin Mary Chaldean Cathedral in Iraq's Basra city

Image source, Getty Images

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The supermoon was spotted next to a street lamp light in L'Aquila, Italy

Image source, Getty Images

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A bird flies past the Buck Moon as it rises in the sky over a lighthouse at the port of Malaga, Spain

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