An unusually big Supermoon lit the skies on Sunday, thereby offering a visual treat to the sky gazers across the globe.

Supermoon is a phenomenon when the moon is closer to the Earth's orbit than usual. The Supermoon on Sunday was the second in a series of three consecutive supermoons of the summer of 2014. On 12 July, the first summer Supermoon occurred, while the third supermoon is expected to brighten the skies on 9 September. 

Supermoon is also called 'perigee moon', which means 'near Earth'. As the moon orbits the Earth, at some point of time every month, it comes closest to the planet, which is termed 'perigee.' When it is farthest each month, it is called 'apogee'.

On 10 August, the moon appeared 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than normal as it reached the point in its orbit closest to the Earth. It was the biggest Supermoon of the year, as the moon was just 356,896 kilometers or 221,765 miles away from our planet. 

Every month, on the day of the new moon, the Earth, the moon and the Sun are aligned in a straight line, with the moon in between. The linear arrangement leads to wide-ranging tides in different parts of the world. 

Sunday's supermoon precedes the Perseid meteor shower that occurs annually starting from mid-July to mid-August. It is one of the biggest and the best meteor showers each year. This year, these shooting stars are expected to peak on 12 and 13 August but may be hindered by the bright Supermoon.

Check out some photographs of the Supermoon, viewed from different parts of the world.

Supermoon
A supermoon raises over Petare slum in Caracas August 10, 2014.Reuters
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Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.Reuters
Fireworks explode in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.
Fireworks explode in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.Reuters
A supermoon rises over Tower Bridge in London August 10, 2014.
A supermoon rises over Tower Bridge in London August 10, 2014.Reuters
A supermoon rises while a couple takes a photo in Monterrey August 10, 2014.
A supermoon rises while a couple takes a photo in Monterrey August 10, 2014.Reuters
A fireworks petard explodes in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.
A fireworks petard explodes in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.Reuters
The supermoon is pictured behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro August 11, 2014.
The supermoon is pictured behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro August 11, 2014.Reuters
Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.
Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta, celebrating the feast of its patron saint, in central Malta, August 10, 2014.Reuters
A supermoon hangs in the sky behind an apartment complex in Suwon August 11, 2014.
Supermoon hangs in the sky behind an apartment complex in Suwon August 11, 2014.Reuters