Monday night’s rare ‘wolf moon’ – promised to be one of the biggest and brightest supermoons of the year – has lit up the sky across the United States following its appearance in Europe and Asia.
The supermoon, also known as a ‘wolf moon,’ made particularly stunning appearances from New York to Las Vegas as the sun set on the first day of 2018.
Spectacular pictures show the moon rising over Manhattan, the Hudson River, the Chicago skyline and the Las Vegas Strip, among other locations.
Supermoons happen when a full moon approximately coincides with the moon’s perigee, or a point in its orbit at which it is closest to Earth.
The supermoon rose over the iconic skyline of Chicago, Illinois on January 1. Supermoons happen when a full moon approximately coincides with the moon’s perigee, or a point in its orbit at which it is closest to Earth
![The first supermoon of the New Year is seen rising over the Las Vegas Strip. A helicopter flying past the camera's view of the moon makes the shot of the Sin City particularly evocative](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B05B8800000578-0-image-a-18_1514861126648.jpg)
The first supermoon of the New Year is seen rising over the Las Vegas Strip. A helicopter flying past the camera’s view of the moon makes the shot of the Sin City particularly evocative
![The supermoon is pictured rising over apartment buildings in Manhattan, New York](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B0688500000578-0-image-a-17_1514861115161.jpg)
The supermoon is pictured rising over apartment buildings in Manhattan, New York
![A bronze statue of General George Washington by William Rudolf O'Donovan stands on top of the Trenton Battle Monument and is silhouetted by the supermoon in New Jersey](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B0196C00000578-0-image-a-23_1514861159855.jpg)
A bronze statue of General George Washington by William Rudolf O’Donovan stands on top of the Trenton Battle Monument and is silhouetted by the supermoon in New Jersey
![The full moon appears red when seen above the Hudson River and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge from Nyack, New York](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/00/47B004D400000578-5226005-image-a-8_1514852426553.jpg)
The full moon appears red when seen above the Hudson River and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge from Nyack, New York
The phenomenon also occurred on the night of New Year’s Eve, and the supermoon was seen rising in particularly stunning fashion London, United Kingdom and Rome, Italy last night.
The moon appeared 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.
On Monday night, the full moon will reach an extreme perigee distance of 221,559 miles from Earth, much closer than its average of 238,900 miles.
According to space.com, tonight will see the ‘biggest full moon of 2018’.
Skywatchers can look to the stars as the moon appears 7 per cent bigger and 12 to 14 per cent brighter.
The first full moon of 2018 will reach its peak tonight between January 1 and 2 — at around 2.24am.
![The moon rises above the Art Deco spire of the Power and Light Building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B05E8200000578-0-image-a-26_1514861446379.jpg)
The moon rises above the Art Deco spire of the Power and Light Building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri
![The supermoon is pictured shining across the Hudson River adjacent to the Mario M Cuomo Bridge in Nyack, New York](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B0118000000578-0-image-a-28_1514861463193.jpg)
The supermoon is pictured shining across the Hudson River adjacent to the Mario M Cuomo Bridge in Nyack, New York
![Pictured is a close-up view of the supermoon over Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago. Topping out at 1,450 feet, the skyscraper is the tallest in the city, the second tallest in the United States and the 16th tallest in the world](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/02/47B0506700000578-0-image-a-33_1514861540050.jpg)
Pictured is a close-up view of the supermoon over Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago. Topping out at 1,450 feet, the skyscraper is the tallest in the city, the second tallest in the United States and the 16th tallest in the world
It was known by early Native American tribes as the ‘wolf moon’, because this was the time of the year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps.
Experts believe the ‘blue moon blood moon supermoon’ rising on January 31 will be the most extraordinary of all.
‘If you can only catch one episode of the supermoon trilogy, catch the third one. It will be extra special,’ according to NASA.
‘The Moon will lose its brightness and take on an eerie, fainter-than-normal glow from the scant sunlight that makes its way through Earth’s atmosphere.
‘Often cast in a reddish hue because of the way the atmosphere bends the light, totally eclipsed Moons are sometimes called ”Blood Moons.”’
![A plane flies in front of a "super moon" or "wolf moon" on its approach to London Heathrow Airport on January 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/22/47B0039600000578-5226005-image-a-79_1514845691433.jpg)
A plane flies in front of a ‘super moon’ or ‘wolf moon’ on its approach to London Heathrow Airport on January 1
![A passenger plane, with a 'supermoon' seen behind, makes its final landing approach towards Heathrow Airport in London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/00/47AEE5BB00000578-5226005-image-a-1_1514852389764.jpg)
A passenger plane, with a ‘supermoon’ seen behind, makes its final landing approach towards Heathrow Airport in London
![A rare 'Wolf Moon' rises behind St Paul's Cathedral and the City's skyline, photographed from the Hungerford Bridge, London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF25FE00000578-5226005-A_rare_Wolf_Moon_rises_behind_St_Paul_s_Cathedral_and_the_City_s-a-45_1514831540076.jpg)
A rare ‘Wolf Moon’ rises behind St Paul’s Cathedral and the City’s skyline, photographed from the Hungerford Bridge, London
![But the celestial anomaly is set to be even brighter tonight, and comes after December's dazzling supermoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF25EB00000578-5226005-But_the_celestial_anomaly_is_set_to_be_even_brighter_tonight_and-a-44_1514831507477.jpg)
But the celestial anomaly is set to be even brighter tonight, and comes after December’s dazzling supermoon
![A bright 'supermoon' full moon is seen rising above the sky in Pieta, Malta, on the evening of January 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/20/47AF93CF00000578-5226005-image-a-2_1514837462832.jpg)
A bright ‘supermoon’ full moon is seen rising above the sky in Pieta, Malta, on the evening of January 1
![The first supermoon of 2018, known as a 'Wolf moon' in the sky above the Shard in London on Monday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/00/47B023CA00000578-5226005-image-a-6_1514852422349.jpg)
The first supermoon of 2018, known as a ‘Wolf moon’ in the sky above the Shard in London on Monday evening
![A bronze statue of General George Washington by William Rudolf O'Donovan stands on top of the Trenton Battle Monument while silhouetted by a supermoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/02/00/47B0196C00000578-5226005-image-a-3_1514852417556.jpg)
A bronze statue of General George Washington by William Rudolf O’Donovan stands on top of the Trenton Battle Monument while silhouetted by a supermoon
![The New Years Eve wolf moon or supermoon over Blackhouse Woods Berkshire supermoon, Berkshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47A9E5A000000578-5226005-The_New_Years_Eve_wolf_moon_or_supermoon_over_Blackhouse_Woods_B-a-30_1514831506685.jpg)
The New Years Eve wolf moon or supermoon over Blackhouse Woods Berkshire supermoon, Berkshire
![A plane flies in front of the full moon during the QPR v Cardiff City match at Loftus Road, London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AEE1F200000578-5226005-A_plane_flies_in_front_of_the_full_moon_during_the_QPR_v_Cardiff-a-40_1514831507045.jpg)
A plane flies in front of the full moon during the QPR v Cardiff City match at Loftus Road, London
![A picture taken on January 1 shows a "supermoon" rising over a mosque in the Dubai Marina](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AEE8BC00000578-5226005-A_picture_taken_on_January_1_shows_a_supermoon_rising_over_a_mos-a-39_1514831507041.jpg)
A picture taken on January 1 shows a ‘supermoon’ rising over a mosque in the Dubai Marina
![The first full moon of the year named after wolves is the second of a series of three 'Supermoons'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF45B900000578-5226005-The_first_full_moon_of_the_year_named_after_wolves_is_the_second-a-43_1514831507305.jpg)
The first full moon of the year named after wolves is the second of a series of three ‘Supermoons’
![Experts believe the 'blue moon blood moon supermoon' rising on January 31 will be the most extraordinary of all](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF422D00000578-5226005-Experts_believe_the_blue_moon_blood_moon_supermoon_rising_on_Jan-a-38_1514831506965.jpg)
Experts believe the ‘blue moon blood moon supermoon’ rising on January 31 will be the most extraordinary of all
![A picture taken on January 1, 2018 shows the "super moon" rising over Piazza del Popolo, in Rome](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF4F3700000578-5226005-This_makes_the_moon_appear_up_to_14_percent_larger_and_30_percen-a-41_1514831507182.jpg)
A picture taken on January 1, 2018 shows the ‘super moon’ rising over Piazza del Popolo, in Rome
![People admires the "super moon" from the Terrazza del Pincio, in Rome, on January 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AF4DA100000578-5226005-People_admires_the_super_moon_from_the_Terrazza_del_Pincio_in_Ro-a-42_1514831507232.jpg)
People admires the ‘super moon’ from the Terrazza del Pincio, in Rome, on January 1
![The celestial anomaly is set to be even brighter tonight, and comes after December's dazzling supermoon. Pictured: The moon over Blackhouse Woods, Berkshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AB77AE00000578-5226005-The_celestial_anomaly_is_set_to_be_even_brighter_tonight_and_com-a-33_1514831506783.jpg)
The celestial anomaly is set to be even brighter tonight, and comes after December’s dazzling supermoon. Pictured: The moon over Blackhouse Woods, Berkshire
![A TV aerial obscures the dazzling supermoon which lit up the night sky over Blackhouse Woods in Berkshire last night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47A9E5A400000578-5226005-A_TV_aerial_obscures_the_dazzling_supermoon_which_lit_up_the_nig-a-32_1514831506754.jpg)
A TV aerial obscures the dazzling supermoon which lit up the night sky over Blackhouse Woods in Berkshire last night
![The first full moon of 2018 will reach its peak tonight between January 1 and 2 — at around 2.24am](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47A9E59C00000578-5226005-The_first_full_moon_of_2018_will_reach_its_peak_tonight_between_-a-31_1514831506713.jpg)
The first full moon of 2018 will reach its peak tonight between January 1 and 2 — at around 2.24am
![A supermoon is seen in the night sky over Anqing City in east China's Anhui province on December 3](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AC885D00000578-5226005-A_supermoon_is_seen_in_the_night_sky_over_Anqing_City_in_east_Ch-a-36_1514831506883.jpg)
A supermoon is seen in the night sky over Anqing City in east China’s Anhui province on December 3
![Twitter users around the world have shared images of the January 1 supermoon. Pictured: The supermoon rises above a palm tree in Sydney, Australia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AC9CBC00000578-5226005-Twitter_users_around_the_world_have_shared_images_of_the_January-a-29_1514831506668.jpg)
Twitter users around the world have shared images of the January 1 supermoon. Pictured: The supermoon rises above a palm tree in Sydney, Australia
![It was known by early Native American tribes as the 'wolf moon', because this was the time of the year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AC9B8800000578-5226005-It_was_known_by_early_Native_American_tribes_as_the_wolf_moon_be-a-37_1514831506895.jpg)
It was known by early Native American tribes as the ‘wolf moon’, because this was the time of the year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps.
![The moon rises above Whitby, North Yorkshire, yesterday. Experts believe the 'blue moon blood moon supermoon' rising on January 31 will be the most extraordinary of all](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/01/18/47AC97DE00000578-5226005-The_moon_rises_above_Whitby_North_Yorkshire_yesterday_Experts_be-a-28_1514831506585.jpg)
The moon rises above Whitby, North Yorkshire, yesterday. Experts believe the ‘blue moon blood moon supermoon’ rising on January 31 will be the most extraordinary of all