On Saturday night, July 12, you may have noticed that the moon looked unusually large.
That’s because it was the “supermoon,” which happens when two phenomenon occur at the same time: the full moon and the “perigee moon.” The perigee moon is when the moon passes closest to earth causing it to look about 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual. It looks even larger when it hangs low over the horizon, as it does when it is rising, for reasons scientists can’t completely explain.
Don’t worry if you missed it though. You can catch another supermoon on August 10 and September 9.
Until then, check out our favorite pictures from this past weekend below:
Below, the moon rises over houses in Olvera, Spain.
REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Here, the supermoon makes its way into the sky over downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
REUTERS/Dave Kaup
In Beirut, Lebanon, the moon crosses behind a decorative lantern celebrating the Muslim holy month, Ramadan.
AP Photo/Hussein Malla
In Malaga, Spain, a stork uses the supermoon as backlighting.
REUTERS/Jon Nazca
The moon rises over the city in Manhattan.
REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
In Las Vegas, Nevada the moon sets over the western skies.
REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Below, the supermoon crosses paths with the Tokyo Sky Tree in Japan, the tallest broadcasting tower in the world at over 2,000 feet tall.
REUTERS/Yuya Shino
Here, the supermoon rises over Somoskoujfala castle northeast of Budapest, Hungary.
AP Photo/MTI,Peter Komka
In Los Angeles, the supermoon lurks behind fans at a baseball game.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The moon even loomed large the day before, on July 11, when this plane took off from New York.
AP Photo/Nick Ut
In Macedonia, a man watches the supermoon rise over Dojran Lake.
AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski
Cars zipped past as the moon rose over Memorial Bridge in Washington D.C.
AP Photo/J. David Ake
The moon appears giant next to Los Angeles’ Mt. Wilson Observatory.
Getty Images/David McNew / Stringer
Super blue blood moon appears over Tokyo, poses with Skytree, other landmarks for beautiful pics
The late, great David Bowie visits Kyoto in these shots taken in the 1980s【Photos】
Heartbreaking photos inside the bedrooms of children who died in last year’s South Korean ferry disaster
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Amazing castle photo ever shows why you shouldn’t skip this often-overlooked part of Japan
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Japanese fashion brand Heather releases line for people 5 feet and under
We check out this year’s new “Ultra” Gratin Croquette Burger from McDonald’s Japan
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Rising Pokémon star Eevee gets her own official dance for the Project Eevee theme song 【Video】
Japanese cats join couple every night for beautiful meals, cute photos【Pics】
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Astronaut Kimiya Yui’s photos tweeted from the International Space Station are simply stunning
Japanese photographer captures beauty of Tokyo after dark in atmospheric photo collection
What’s going on in this brain-breakingly beautiful cherry blossom temple photo?
“Miraculous” cloud over Mt Fuji stuns the Internet
Amazing photos of off-the-beaten-path Japanese castles to add to your travel wish list【Photos】
Asakusa photo studio transforms visitors into courtesans, geisha and samurai
The 6 volcanoes most likely to destroy, like, everything (guess which country has the most)
This amazing photo of the Japan Alps only gets more beautiful the higher you look
Use this simple trick to create awesome photos of holiday lights this winter!
Instagram’s famous #FollowMeTo couple capture the beauty of their trip to Japan【Pics & Video】
Photo of snowy Japanese temple wows people around the world
Mt Fuji photo tricks the eye by looking like a moody ink painting
Quiz time! How many of these photos of Japanese places can you identify?【Photos】
10 places in Japan so beautiful it’s practically hard to take a bad picture while you’re there
Japanese company caught out for over-processing autumn leaves photo at popular tourist site
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