These incredible images show how the biggest and brightest moon for 20 years lit up the sky last night.
The 'supermoon' appeared 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal as it reached the point in its orbit closest to the Earth, known as 'perigee'.
Many enthusiasts grabbed their mobile phones to take a snapshot of the glimmering spectacle - which also came at the start of the Perseid meteor shower.
Stargazers around the world, including in London, New York, Beijing, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro, looked up into the night sky to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon.
Supermoons, which are known to cause higher tides, occur every 13 months and 18 days, but are not always noticed because of cloudy weather. Last night it was just 221,765 miles from Earth
This year there are five supermoons, two new moons in January and full moons in July, August and September. The spectacular glow created by the bright moon sparked a deluge of comments on Twitter over night.
One user said he was 'dumbstruck' by the spectacle while another wrote: 'Check out the supermoon. Hopefully it's clear where you are. It looks amazing here around Cambridge.'
Spectacular: The supermoon lit up the night sky over London last night providing a glowing backdrop to the Shard skyscraper, pictured centre
Crowds gathered in the hope of capturing spectacular pictures of the supermoon rising above Tower Bridge in London (pictured)
The 'supermoon' appeared 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal as it reached the point in its orbit closest to the Earth, known as 'perigee'. It is pictured here behind the Shard in London
Glowing: The night sky almost appeared blue as it glimmered over Brighton. The light can be seen reflecting off the sea in this spectacular night shot of Brighton Pier
Blue moon: A stargazer tries to take an amateunr snap of the supermoon using a mobile phone device while the sky around it in South London appears to turn blue
The full moon was a bright presence in the London night sky and many lit up many of the capital's greatest buildings and monuments, including the Shard, pictured
THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST IN 20 YEARS: THE SUPERMOON EXPLAINED
A supermoon occurs when the moon is both 'full' and at its closest point to Earth.
Astronomers call this phenomenon a 'perigee moon,' which describes the full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth each year.
Perigee marks the closest point a body reaches as it orbits around its host object such as Earth, while apogee marks the farthest point from its parent body.
Almost every orbit has an apogee and perigee because orbits tend to be elliptical rather than perfectly circular, so even Earth has an apogee and perigee around the sun.
Last night the supermoon was 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter as it passed Earth 221,765 miles away. Although they occur every 13 months and 18 days, they are not always noticed because of cloudy weather.
This year there are five supermoons, two new moons in January and full moons in July, August and September.
A perigee full moon, also called 'supermoon', glows as it looms behind the Chrysler Building in New York City. This image was taken from from Weehawken, New Jersey
The moon glows orange behind the famous skyscrapers of New York. Supermoons, which are known to cause higher tides, occur every 13 months and 18 days
It's Moonumental: The supermoon is seen as it rises through the clouds behind the bronze Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford in Washington DC, U.S
The supermoon rises behind the light on top of the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year there are five supermoons, two new moons in January and full moons in July, August and September
A supermoon rises behind Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, South Korea. The astronomical event occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit, making it appear much larger and brighter than usual
With its craters clearly visible and glowing yellow, the supermoon rises over Chinese words reading 'China construction' in Beijing
Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta
The supermoon appeared almost pink in colour as it glowed above Istanbul in Turkey. Supermoons, which are known to cause higher tides, occur every 13 months and 18 days, but are not always noticed because of cloudy weather
The full moon descends behind the Nossa Senhora da Penha Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In this time of the year the orb is at the closest point to the earth
This shot of the moon appeared behind a Spanish fighting bull in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. The phenomenon, which scientists call a perigee moon, occurs when the moon is near the horizon
A supermoon rises over the Peace Tower on Ottawa's Parliament Hill as seen from Gatineau, Québec
Stargazers around the world looked up into the nightsky to catch a glimpse of the supermoon, including in Blenheim, New Zealand where this spectacular picture was taken
