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Photos: Spectacular supermoon enthralls

July 13, 2014 2:35PM ET

The supermoon phenomenon occurs when a full moon coincides with the satellite’s being closest in its orbit to Earth

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A supermoon rises over Berlin, Germany, as seen on the evening of 11 July 2014.
The supermoon rises behind the spire of the Adventist Church in Danziger Strasse in Berlin, July 11, 2014. Maurizio Gambarini / EPA
The supermoon descends behind the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The supermoon descends behind the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Images
A supermoon rises in the sky above Manhattan and One World Trade Center as seen from the Eagle Rock Reservation in New Jersey, July 12, 2014.
The moon rises above Manhattan, seen from the Eagle Rock Reservation in New Jersey, July 12. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz, July 12, 2014.
The supermoon rises over houses in Olvera in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz, July 12. Jon Nazca / Reuters
A full moon rises above the castle of Somoskoujfalu, northeast of Budapest, Hungary, late 12 July 2014.
The moon rises over the castle of Somoskoujfalu, northeast of Budapest, Hungary, July 12.
A supermoon over a bridge in the center of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 12 July 2014.
The supermoon over a bridge in central Skopje, Macedonia, July 12. Georgi Licovski / EPA
A supermoon sets towards the western skies of Las Vegas, Nevada early Saturday morning July 12, 2014.
The supermoon sets west of Las Vegas, July 12. Gene Blevins / Reuters
The Supermoon rises over downtown Kansas City, Missouri July 12, 2014.
The supermoon rises over downtown Kansas City, Missouri, July 12. Dave Kaup / Reuters
Aircraft passes in front of a supermoon rising over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa July 12, 2014.
The supermoon rising over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario, July 12. Blair Gable / Reuters

You may have noticed that the full moon on Saturday night appeared to be larger than usual. The not all too uncommon event  — but nevertheless striking — is known as a ‘‘supermoon" and occurs when our celestial neighbor is relatively close to Earth.

That distance varies because the moon follows an elliptical orbit. When it's close and full, it appears bigger and brighter than normal. This weekend's supermoon peaked on Saturday night.

Supermoons may seem unusually huge, but it's just an illusion caused by the moon's position in the sky.

Two other supermoons will come later this summer on Aug. 10 and Sept. 9.

The Associated Press