A buck supermoon rose on Wednesday. Here's what it looked like around the world
Consuegra, Spain: A windmill is seen in front of the supermoon. Meng Dingbo /Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images hide caption
Consuegra, Spain: A windmill is seen in front of the supermoon.
Meng Dingbo /Xinhua News Agency/Getty ImagesThe third supermoon of 2022 rose on Wednesday.
It's also known as a buck moon because it falls in July. The name doesn't come from its appearance — you won't see the shape of a buck on the moon's surface or anything. Instead, it refers to something that's happening in nature.
Wuhan, China: A supermoon is pictured near the Yellow Crane Tower. Zhou Guoqiang/Xinhua News Agency/ Getty Images hide caption
Milwaukee, Wis.: A plane passes in front of a full moon. Morry Gash/AP hide caption
Copenhagen, Denmark: A full supermoon known as the buck moon is seen as a deer grazes outside the village of Taarbaek. Sergei Gapon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images hide caption
Larnaca, Cyprus: The full moon rises over the Mediterranean Sea. Petros Karadjias/AP hide caption
"The full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time," as The Old Farmer's Almanac says. "Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by."
Lower Saxony, Syke, Germany: Onlookers watch the moon rise from the observation tower on the Hohe Berg. Thomas Lindemann/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images hide caption
What is a supermoon?
What makes this particular buck moon a supermoon is something else. Supermoons by definition happen "when a full moon coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee," according to NASA.
"During every 27-day orbit around Earth, the Moon reaches both its perigee, about 226,000 miles (363,300 km) from Earth, and its farthest point, or apogee, about 251,000 miles (405,500 km) from Earth."
Brasilia, Brazil: A supermoon is seen at the Planalto Palace. Lucio Tavora/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images hide caption
Baghdad, Iraq: The full moon rises. Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption
Washington, D.C.: A full moon sets behind the Jefferson Memorial. J. David Ake/AP hide caption
St. Petersburg, Russia: The full moon rises over a private house in the village of Putilovo. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP hide caption
Supermoons happen when a full moon comes within at least 90% of the perigee. That happened Wednesday afternoon at 2:38 p.m. ET.
But the moon will appear full for about three days, through early Friday morning, so there are still viewing opportunities.
And this isn't the last supermoon of the year either. The sturgeon moon on the night of Aug. 11 will be the final supermoon in this year's set of four.
Istanbul, Turkey: Full moon rises over the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and Blue Mosque. Ali Atmaca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption
What to look for
Supermoons in general appear 17% bigger and 30% brighter than when the moon is at its farthest point away from Earth, according to NASA. Supermoons are slightly bigger and brighter than most full moons, too. Just because it's bigger and brighter doesn't necessarily mean you'll see it unaided, so binoculars may give you a better view.
And if you're looking for some photography tips to capture this event, NASA has you covered with these handy tips.
The best times to view the buck moon will be at moonrise and moonset. You can find your local times for those here.
Milan, Italy: The full moon rises over the Sforzesco Castle. Luca Bruno/AP hide caption
Sydney, Australia: A supermoon rises over the skyline. Rick Rycroft/AP hide caption
Correction July 13, 2022
A previous version of this story said the supermoon was rising on Tuesday. While the moon appeared full on Tuesday, the actual full moon is on Wednesday.