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| Supermoon: world's skywatchers seek clear skies for rare sight | Supermoon: world's skywatchers seek clear skies for rare sight |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The largest supermoon in 68 years has risen in Europe and Africa as astronomers across the world observe the stunning natural phenomenon. | |
| Skygazers took to high-rise buildings, observatories and beaches to get a glimpse of the closest supermoon to Earth in almost seven decades, and snap dramatic pictures. The supermoon was first visible in Australia and Asia as night fell in the east. | |
| The phenomenon happens when the moon is full at the same time as, or very near, perigee – its closest point to Earth on an elliptical, monthly orbit. Clear skies allowing, it will be visible shortly after sunset on Monday wherever people are in the world. | The phenomenon happens when the moon is full at the same time as, or very near, perigee – its closest point to Earth on an elliptical, monthly orbit. Clear skies allowing, it will be visible shortly after sunset on Monday wherever people are in the world. |
| Nasa said this moon would be “especially super” as it would be the closest to Earth since 1948 and there wouldn’t be another like it until 2034. | Nasa said this moon would be “especially super” as it would be the closest to Earth since 1948 and there wouldn’t be another like it until 2034. |
| The supermoon was visible in China and across much of India, although residents of New Delhi, the world’s most polluted capital, struggled to see it clearly through the toxic smog that has been shrouding the city in recent weeks. | The supermoon was visible in China and across much of India, although residents of New Delhi, the world’s most polluted capital, struggled to see it clearly through the toxic smog that has been shrouding the city in recent weeks. |
| Professional astronomers were at the ready at observatories across the region to explain the phenomenon to curious members of the public. | Professional astronomers were at the ready at observatories across the region to explain the phenomenon to curious members of the public. |
| Astronomers say it can be hard to notice that the moon appears brighter than usual. Once it is high in the sky, it is hard to tell the moon is larger but on the horizon, it can appear quite spectacular. | Astronomers say it can be hard to notice that the moon appears brighter than usual. Once it is high in the sky, it is hard to tell the moon is larger but on the horizon, it can appear quite spectacular. |
| For the best view, Pascal Descamps, of the Paris Observatory, recommended that people choose somewhere with a well-known landmark in the foreground. | For the best view, Pascal Descamps, of the Paris Observatory, recommended that people choose somewhere with a well-known landmark in the foreground. |
| In Britain, weather forecasters said the best chance of witnessing the supermoon would be in eastern Scotland, north-east England, north-east Wales and the east of Northern Ireland. | In Britain, weather forecasters said the best chance of witnessing the supermoon would be in eastern Scotland, north-east England, north-east Wales and the east of Northern Ireland. |
| The supermoon also means a stronger high tide, something that gets surfers giddy with excitement, not only at the prospect of riding bigger waves, but doing so at night. | The supermoon also means a stronger high tide, something that gets surfers giddy with excitement, not only at the prospect of riding bigger waves, but doing so at night. |
| Thousands of people headed to Bronte beach in Sydney to witness the event, but clouds largely spoiled the party, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. | Thousands of people headed to Bronte beach in Sydney to witness the event, but clouds largely spoiled the party, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. |
| Well we had a plan but the clouds got in the way #supermoon #Noshow pic.twitter.com/LCxKXHSBdW | Well we had a plan but the clouds got in the way #supermoon #Noshow pic.twitter.com/LCxKXHSBdW |
| But in Queensland and western Australia the supermoon lit up the night sky. | But in Queensland and western Australia the supermoon lit up the night sky. |
| Amateur photographers, families and astronomy enthusiasts jostled for prime position on Brisbane lookout Mount Coot-tha to watch the lunar event. | Amateur photographers, families and astronomy enthusiasts jostled for prime position on Brisbane lookout Mount Coot-tha to watch the lunar event. |
| The long line of cars making their way down from Mt Coot-tha under the Supermoon. @ABCNewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/TkCSoeJGyb | The long line of cars making their way down from Mt Coot-tha under the Supermoon. @ABCNewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/TkCSoeJGyb |
| Picnics were held in downtown Hong Kong for residents to watch the supermoon rise over the financial hub’s skyline, while hikers headed to the greener, more distant corners of the city to enjoy views with less light pollution. | Picnics were held in downtown Hong Kong for residents to watch the supermoon rise over the financial hub’s skyline, while hikers headed to the greener, more distant corners of the city to enjoy views with less light pollution. |
| The landmark Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan, one of the world’s tallest buildings, welcomed skygazers. Astronomers predicted it would be one of the biggest moons seen from the island in nearly 100 years. | The landmark Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan, one of the world’s tallest buildings, welcomed skygazers. Astronomers predicted it would be one of the biggest moons seen from the island in nearly 100 years. |
| Special viewing events were being organised by astronomy groups, with members of one group in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta – the heart of an ancient sultanate – taking to the rooftop of their headquarters to get a glimpse of the supermoon as it rose over the city’s historic buildings. | Special viewing events were being organised by astronomy groups, with members of one group in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta – the heart of an ancient sultanate – taking to the rooftop of their headquarters to get a glimpse of the supermoon as it rose over the city’s historic buildings. |
| In Thailand, astrologers were variously predicting the supermoon would bring disaster or great fortune. | In Thailand, astrologers were variously predicting the supermoon would bring disaster or great fortune. |
| Soraja Nuan-yoo, renowned for predicting the 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in countries around the Indian Ocean, said that when the moon got close to the Earth “natural disasters happen”. | Soraja Nuan-yoo, renowned for predicting the 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in countries around the Indian Ocean, said that when the moon got close to the Earth “natural disasters happen”. |