Astronomy enthusiasts will be over the moon at this news…

Cameras at the ready, UAE stargazers: Tonight you’ll be able to witness the largest and brightest supermoon of 2018.

What is a supermoon? The phenomenon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making it appear closer and brighter than usual.

Tonight’s supermoon – dubbed a “Wolf Moon” – is actually the second in a series of three consecutive supermoons. The last one happened on December 3 (you can check out the pics here), while the next one will occur on January 31.

ALSO READ: 13 of our favourite photos from yesterday’s supermoon

While those living in the western hemisphere experienced the supermoon on the evening of January 1, those of us in the eastern hemisphere will get the best view tonight. In the UAE, the moon is expected to rise around 6.13pm, according to timeanddate.com.

A full moon has to come within around 361,000 kilometres of Earth for it to be considered a supermoon, and EarthSky says tonight’s moon will have a distance of 356,846 km.

During a supermoon, the full moon can appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than any other night of the year.

Lunar events have made for some pretty impressive photo opportunities in Dubai. 

In July 2014, HH Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared an incredible video of himself atop the Burj Khalifa, with the enormous supermoon in the background.

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