Blue supermoon: World gazes at rare lunar phenomenon

Image source, Diego Vara/Reuters

Image caption, Birds could be seen flying during the blue supermoon in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Sky gazers around the world have been treated to a blue supermoon, which made a spectacular appearance for the first time since 2009.

A blue Moon occurs when the pattern of days in a year means there are 13 full Moons instead of the usual 12.

This blue Moon is also a supermoon - when the Earth's only natural satellite appears brighter than usual because it is at its closest point in its orbit around our planet.

But despite its name, the lunar phenomenon has nothing to do with colour - it gets its name because it does not fall in the usual scheme of named Moons.

Top Stories

The lunar spectacle is visible either on Wednesday or Thursday in different parts of the world.

Image source, Victoria Jones/PA Media

Image caption, A plane passes in front of the blue Moon in London

Top Stories

Image source, Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Image caption, Spectators captured images of the Moon as it rose above Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Image source, Stelios Misinas/Reuters

Image caption, In Greece, the blue supermoon delighted crowds that gathered at the ancient Temple of Poseidon, near Athens

Image source, Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

Image caption, People gathered at Marina Bay Sands as the Moon came into view in Singapore

Image source, Mikhail Serbin/Getty Images

Image caption, Star gazers were able to enjoy a view of the Moon rising over the bright lights of Moscow, Russia

Image source, Scott Olson/Getty Images

Image caption, People gathered along North Avenue Beach, as the Moon rose in Chicago

Top Stories

Image source, Abir Sultan/EPA

Image caption, The Moon appeared to roll over an ancient fortress near the city of Rosh HaAyin in Israel

Image source, Owen Humphreys/PA Media

Image caption, The supermoon came into view over the stands during the first Vitality IT20 match at the Seat Unique Riverside in County Durham

Image source, David Talukdar/Getty Images

Image caption, The blue Moon created an abstract scene as it rose over Guwahati city in India

Image source, Majdi Fathi/Getty Images

Image caption, The supermoon caught the attention of a Palestinian boy as he rode his bicycle in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip

Image source, Saqib Majeed/Getty Images

Image caption, Flowers are seen as the Moon rose over Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir

All photos subject to copyright.