In pictures: Blue supermoon captured over the West Midlands

Ian Parkes captured the moon rising above Birmingham from Sedgley

Ian Parkes Supermoon Rising over Birmingham taken from Sedgley — Ian Parkes captured the moon rising above Birmingham from Sedgley

People across the world have been captivated by a rare blue supermoon.

The blue Moon phenomenon occurs when the pattern of days means there are 13 full moons in a year, rather than the usual 12.

Wednesday night's appearance was also a supermoon, marking the satellite's closest point in its orbit of the Earth, making the Moon appear larger and brighter than normal.

Not wishing to miss the once in a blue (super) moon occurrence, BBC Weather Watchers across the West Midlands turned their cameras skywards.

Several BBC Weather Watchers managed to get good quality close-ups of the lunar landscape, such as this one from Gobowen

Rcolby Moon over Gobowen — Several BBC Weather Watchers managed to get good quality close-ups of the lunar landscape, such as this one from Gobowen

The supermoon made it appear larger and brighter than normal, here illuminating Baxterley in Warwickshire

Jack March Moon over Baxterley, in Warwickshire — The supermoon made it appear larger and brighter than normal, here illuminating Baxterley in Warwickshire

Despite its name, a blue moon has nothing to do with its colour, but is called that because it does not fit into the usual pattern.

We typically have 12 full moons each year, with each of these having their own name, such as a Wolf Moon, Strawberry Moon, Buck Moon, Harvest Moon or Worm Moon.

The cycle of the Moon - the time it takes to go through its different phases - takes 29.5 days to complete.

This means that 12 full cycles take 354 days, which is fewer than the 365 days (or 366 days) in our calendar year.

AirbusRed chose to use the Moon to create this silhouette in Sandbach

AirbusRed Moon over Sandbach — AirbusRed chose to use the Moon to create this silhouette in Sandbach

Not blue, but many photos of the Moon on Wednesday night, such as this one in Rolleston-on-Dove, near Burton upon Trent, seemed to show it glowing a warm orange

Grandad4 Moon over Rolleston, near Burton upon Trent — Not blue, but many photos of the Moon on Wednesday night, such as this one in Rolleston-on-Dove, near Burton upon Trent, seemed to show it glowing a warm orange

A blue supermoon, here photographed in Yatton, Herefordshire, will next make an appearance in 2037

Ranger Jim Moon over Yatton — A blue supermoon, here photographed in Yatton, Herefordshire, will next make an appearance in 2037

When clouds cleared, astronomy fans got the chance to see the lunar surface more clearly than normal - this shot was captured in Henwick, near Worcester

MochrumDunbar Moon over Henwick — When clouds cleared, astronomy fans got the chance to see the lunar surface more clearly than normal - this shot was captured in Henwick, near Worcester

Blue moons typically come around every two or three years while blue supermoons are even rarer and we will have to wait until 2037 to see the next one.