Supermoon Pictures: See 2018 Wolf Moon Light Up Skies Around the World

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The supermoon competes with seasonal lights in Wells, England, on January 1. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

2018 is already off to a fantastic start for stargazers. New Year's Day brought a stunning supermoon to the night sky, shining bigger and brighter than a normal full moon.

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A supermoon glows brighter than the average moon, pictured here in detail from Valencia, Spain, on January 1. Werner Wilmes/Flickr

You may have been in too fragile a state to brave the outside world and see the moon itself after a night of heavy celebrating on New Year's Eve. If so, don't worry. Newsweek has collected the very best pictures of the incredible lunar event from around the world.

London

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A passenger plane passes in front of the wolf moon as it approaches Heathrow Airport in London on January 1. Toby Melville/Reuters

A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth during an orbit, according to NASA.

Nyack, New York

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The supermoon pictured above the Hudson River and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, pictured from Nyack, New York, on January 1. Mike Segar/Reuters

Because the moon's orbit of the planet is not a perfect circle, sometimes it is closer to the Earth than usual. This can make the moon appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than a normal full moon.

Rome

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The full moon illuminates the historic architecture of Piazza del Popolo in Rome on January 1. Alberto Pizzolo/AFP/Getty Images

The New Year's full moon is called a wolf moon, named for the howls of the hungry animals during midwinter.

Dalian, China

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The wolf moon glows behind a dog-shaped lantern in Dalian, Liaoning province, China, on January 1. China Stringer Network/Reuters

January 31 will also play host to a supermoon, the final event in what NASA has called a "supermoon trilogy," which started December 3.

Jalandhar, India

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The moon rises above decorative lights in Jalandhar, India, on January 1. Shammi Mehra/AFP/Getty Images

The supermoon on January 31 will be the second full moon of the month—a blue moon.

Wells, England

To top it off, stargazers in some parts of the U.S. will be treated to lunar eclipse on the same, final night of January.

Iqaluit, Nunavut

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The wolf moon lights up the icy surface of Iqaluit, Nunavut, on January 1. Fiona Paton/Flickr

You can see if your location will be one of those witnessing a total eclipse on this EarthSky map.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Katherine Hignett is a reporter based in London. She currently covers current affairs, health and science. Prior to joining Newsweek ... Read more

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