The December supermoon rises above Tower Bridge on the River Thames on December 4
As the moon orbits the Earth every month, there is a point in every cycle where the moon is closest (perigee) and a point where it’s farthest away (apogee).
There is also a monthly lunar cycle where we can see varying amounts of the moon depending on it’s position relative to Earth and the Sun.
For a supermoon to happen, these need to line up.
The moon was visible from Earth with the naked eye, just as it always is. Although the moon is the biggest and closest it can be to us, experts warn that supermoons can sometimes be disappointing.
Lyle Tavernier, an expert at Nasa, said: ‘Keep in mind that a 14 per cent increase in the apparent size of something that can be covered with a fingernail on an outstretched arm won’t seem significantly bigger.
‘Comparing a supermoon with a typical full moon from memory is very difficult.’
With the moon being as close to Earth as it is, there is a significant impact on the tides.
When the moon is closest, the tide will be at its highest, and the same happens with a new or full moon.
This happens on a monthly basis, but occasionally the point of perigee aligns with a new or full moon and results in a ‘perigean spring tide’.
These are particularly high tides that can influence the oceans and raise sea level by a number of inches.