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11 Aug 2014

#supermoonselfie: the best selfies from around the globe

Star-gazers take selfies of the phenomenon known as the “supermoon” – an unusually large and bright moon when its orbit point is closest to the earth.

The moon appeared 14 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 selfies of the spectacle – which comes two days before the meteor shower reaches its peak.

Given a dark, clear sky in a normal year, it is common to see more than 100 of the meteors an hour during the second week in August.


A moon appears behind the Toro Osborne advertisement a day before the “supermoon”.

A “supermoon” happens when the moon is slightly closer to earth in its orbit than on average, and this effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full moon. So, the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from earth is only a few percent at such times.

It is called a “supermoon” because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The “super” in “supermoon” is really just the appearance of being closer.


The “supermoon” is pictured behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.


A two-headed eagle, the national symbol of Russia, is seen in front of the supermoon as it rises over the towers of Historical Museum in Moscow.


A mother and her daughter take selfies in Monterrey, Mexico as the “supermoon” rises.

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