Supermoon 2012 Photos: Big Full Moon Views from Around the World

Supermoon Sinking

ESA/NASA

The Supermoon appears to be sinking into the atmosphere. The image was taken by André Kuipers from aboard the ISS on May 5, 2012.

Supermoon over Manhattan

Gary Hershorn/Reuters

Seen from West Orange, New Jersey, the full moon hangs over the Manhattan skyline like a celestial clementine Sunday night. In general, the moon appears redder near the horizon, because its light is passing through more of our planet's thick atmosphere than when the moon is higher—the atmosphere tends to scatter blue light, letting mostly red wavelengths through.

Supermoon 2012 Rises Over Entiat: Tim McCord

Tim McCord

The supermoon of 2012 rises over Entiat, Wash., in this photo by skywatcher Tim McCord snapped on May 5, 2012.

Supermoon 2012 Over Mumbai: Jatin Raval

Jatin Raval

Skywatcher Jatin Raval snapped this serene view of the 2012 supermoon, the full moon of may, between palm trees near Juhu Beach in Mumbai, India, on May 5, 2012.

Supermoon and Space Needle

Quynh Ton/National Geographic Your Shot

While a treat for sky-watchers, the supermoon (pictured behind Seattle's Space Needle this weekend) on Saturday wasn't a rare event: The full moon coincides with lunar perigee about once a year, on average. And because the size of the moon's orbit varies slightly, each monthly perigee is not always the same distance from Earth.

Supermoon 2012 Over Oahu: James Davidson

James Davidson

The supermoon of 2012 shines bright over Oahu, Hawaii as two skywatchers look on in this amazing view from observer James Davidson on May 5, 2012 during the May full moon.

Supermoon 2012 from Woburn: Imelda Joson/Edwin Aguirre

Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre

Veteran astrophotographers Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre captured this view of the supermoon of 2012, the full moon of May, on May 5, 2012, from Woburn, Mass.

Flattened Moonbeams

ESA/NASA

Flattened moonbeams appear to look like liquid in this image of the supermoon. The image was taken by André Kuipers from aboard the ISS on May 5, 2012.

Supermoon over Rio

Victor R. Caivano/AP

The golden disk of a full moon rests over a Rio de Janeiro shantytown on Sunday. No major effects on Earth have so far been linked to supermoons, the Adler Planetarium's Gyuk emphasized. "Supermoons have been happening for billions of years, and nothing particularly special occurs on these dates—except, of course, for a beautiful full moon."

Supermoon 2012 from Pisa, Italy: Giuseppe Petricca

Giuseppe Petricca

Skywatcher Giueseppe Petricca of Pisa, Italy, caught this view of the 2012 supermoon, the May full moon, rising just before sunset in Pisa, Italy on May 5, 2012. Petricca used a NikonNikon P90 digital camera and ISO100.

Supermoon 2012 in Manchester, Wash.: Tonya Traylor

Tonya Traylor

The supermoon of 2012 shines bright in a cloud-spattered sky in this view from skywatcher Tonya Traylor from Manchester, Wash., on May 5, 2012.

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