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Supermoon and lunar eclipse delight stargazers

EPA A supermoon with a partial lunar eclipse sets over the old city of Jerusalem, 18 September 2024.EPA
The supermoon with a partial lunar eclipse was seen around the world - with this picture taken from Jerusalem

A supermoon has lit up the sky across the world coinciding with a rare partial lunar eclipse.

The Moon could be seen to appear brighter and bigger on Tuesday night.

Supermoons happen when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

A rare partial lunar eclipse - when the Earth's shadow covers part of the Moon - also happened with about 4% of the Moon's disc covered in darkness.

Overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, the partial lunar eclipse was visible in the UK, Europe, North and South America and the whole of Africa.

In the UK it occurred between 01:40 BST and 05:47, reaching its peak at 03:44.

For those in the US, the eclipse is visible between 20:41 EST and 00:47 - or 22:44 at its maximum.

This month's full moon - known as the Harvest moon - is the second of four "supermoons" this year.

There will be two total lunar eclipses visible from the UK next year - on 14 March and 7 September.

BBC Weather Watchers/Woody's Elf Spotted Norwegian Air Shuttle flight DY1811 transiting across the rising full moon.BBC Weather Watchers/Woody's Elf
A passenger jet is seen crossing in front of the supermoon in Gloucestershire
Reuters Partial lunar eclipse at the Samalayuca Dunes on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, MexicoReuters
This image of the partial lunar eclipse was captured in Mexico
BBC Weather Watchers/Roy C Supermoon shines over the water at Weston-super-Mare, north Somerset.BBC Weather Watchers/Roy C
The supermoon shines on Weston-super-Mare, north Somerset
BBC Weather Watchers/Jack March Supermoon rises in Baxterley, WarwickshireBBC Weather Watchers/Jack March
Supermoon rises over a country house in Warwickshire, UK
BBC Weather Watchers/Claire Meadows The moon shines over buildings in Barnsley.BBC Weather Watchers/Claire Meadows
The supermoon above buildings in Barnsley
Getty Images Moon rises in Caracas, Venezuela Getty Images
The Moon seen from Caracas, Venezuela
Getty Images A supermoon seen from Nanjing, China Getty Images
The Moon seen from Nanjing in China's eastern Jiangsu province
A full moon rises over the Golan Heights
The supermoon rises over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
Getty Images A man sets up a telescope in IndonesiaGetty Images
A stargazer sets up a telescope in Indonesia
BBC Weather Watchers/Coastal JJ The supermoon can be seen behind the blades of an old windmill in Selsey, West Sussex.BBC Weather Watchers/Coastal JJ
The supermoon and a windmill in Selsey, West Sussex
Walkers walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge
The silhouette of climbers descending from the summit of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Getty Images Full Moon rises behind the Galata Tower in Istanbul, TurkiyeGetty Images
The Moon rises behind the Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey
Getty Images A plane flies in front of the Moon in TorontoGetty Images
A plane flies in front of the Moon in Toronto