'Supermoon' to rise tonight - Angkasa

A Supermoon or a perigee full moon phenomenon, where the Moon makes the closest encounter with Earth, can be observed through telescopes tonight, according to the National Space Agency (Angkasa).

During the phenomenon, the Moon will appear 14 per cent larger and 30 per sent brighter than the normal full Moon, the agency said in a statement here today.

"We will be able to see the Moon in its full phase and when it is closest to Earth, that is just 356,989km away," the statement said.

According to Angkasa, the Supermoon phenomenon occurred as the Moon has an oval-shaped orbit around the Earth and hence causes the Moon's distance from the Earth to be varied each month.

Meanwhile, the Moon is expected to be farthest from Earth on July 7 this year at 406,491km.