A Philippine flag flutters before the snow moon as seen over Manila as astronomy enthusiasts view the biggest supermoon of the year from various points in Metro Manila on Tuesday night.
The STAR/Miguel de Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — Skywatchers in several parts of the world witnessed the biggest super moon of the year Tuesday night (Manila time).
Appearing bigger than normal, the moon was closest in its orbit to Earth at about 358,000 kilometers away.
February's largest full moon is also called the snow moon as native Americans and Europeans associate the months with heavy snowfall, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.
In some parts of the world, the moon appeared red as the light of the sun no longer directly illuminates it as the Earth is passing between the moon and the sun.
"The color is due to Rayleigh scattering — where the Sun's blue light is scattered off molecules in Earth's atmosphere — which also happens at sunsets," the Royal Astronomical Society of Britain said.
"The Sun's red light is scattered much less by air, and is bent by Earth's atmosphere in a process called refraction, traveling all the way through it to light up the Moon's surface," it added. — with Agence France-Presse
A 'Super Snow Moon' rises over the banks of the River Loire at Lavau-sur-Loire, western France on February 19, 2019. AFP/LOIC VENANCE
A 'Super Snow Moon' rise over Ajaccio on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, on February 19, 2019. Super Moon is a term used when a full moon is at or near its closest approach to Earth. AFP/PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA
The Super Snow Moon rises between the statues of Alexander the Great (R) and Diogenes of Sinope (L) in Corinth, 83 km from Athens, on February 19, 2019. AFP/Valerie GACHE
The Super Snow Moon rises next to the Parthenon Temple at the Acropolis archaeological site on February 19, 2019. Super Moon is a term used with a full moon that occurs when the Moon is at or near its closest approach to Earth. AFP/LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
A statue of the Stadium of the Marbles (Stadio dei Marmi) is pictured against the Super Snow Moon on February 19, 2019 in Rome. AFP/Tiziana FABI
A statue atop Milan's Duomo Cathedral is pictured as the Super Snow Moon rises on February 19, 2019. AFP/Andreas SOLARO
A Super Snow Moon rises behind a sculpture in Skopje on February 19, 2019. AFP/Robert ATANASOVSKI
The super moon is photographed while rising behind El Avila hill on the sky of Caracas, Venezuela on February 19, 2019. AFP/YURI CORTEZ