Skygazers enjoyed magical views of a dazzling Supermoon overnight.
The moon appeared bigger and brighter in the sky as it sat closer than average to Earth.
The moon, appearing bigger and brighter, lit up the skies last night pic.twitter.com/QogmJoJmFa
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 4, 2017
December's full moon, traditionally known as the Cold Moon, appeared 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual yesterday.
Tom Kerss, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: "This year's Cold Moon is closer to us than the average full moon this year; close enough to qualify as a supermoon, according to the widely accepted definition.
The moon has a slightly elliptical orbit - it does not move round the Earth in a perfect circle.
At some points it is about 5% closer to Earth than average, known as perigee, and at others it is 5% further away, known as apogee.
The full moon was 222,761 miles from Earth, closer than its average 238,900 miles.
Mr Kerss said: "During moonrise and moonset, you might think the moon looks unusually large, but this is an illusion created in the mind when it appears close to the horizon.
"In fact, the change in the moon's apparent size throughout its orbit is imperceptible to the unaided eye.
"Nevertheless, the 'moon illusion' can be a dramatic effect, and with the moon rising so early, there will be ample opportunities to see its apparently huge face juxtaposed with the eastern skyline."
