Supermoon Blue Moon 2024: Top photos from around the world

The silhouette of a cable car passes in front of the moon
A cable car passes in front of August's full moon, also known as the Supermoon Blue Moon. (Image credit: PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty Images)

August's Supermoon Blue Moon 2024 put on an epic show worldwide and we've rounded up some of the best photos to prove it.

The Supermoon Blue Moon occurred at 2:26 p.m. EDT (1826 GMT) on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, when the moon was 100% fully illuminated. Moonrise times are dependent on your viewing location.

August's full moon was a seasonal Blue Moon meaning it's the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. The term supermoon refers to a full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth during its orbit, according to NASA. August's full moon will be followed by three more supermoons on Sept. 17, Oct. 17 and Nov. 15.

Here we take a look at some of the top Supermoon Blue Moon photos from around the world. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Related: Why is a 'once-in-a-decade' Supermoon Blue Moon happening twice in 2 years?

Photographer Tiziana Fabi captured the full moon rising over the dome of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.

a large dome structure in the center with a big orange full moon shining just to the right of the dome.

Supermoon Blue Moon rising over Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. (Image credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Below is a striking image of an airplane flying past the Supermoon Blue Moon. The scene was photographed from Kastellet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

a large fully illuminated moon in the background and in the foreground is the silhouette of an airplane flying across the moon.

Full moon and airplane captured from Copenhagen, Denmark. (Image credit: THOMAS TRAASDAHL/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Another photo from Denmark shows the August Full Moon rising over buildings in Kongekajen, Copenhagen.

A yellow moon rises behind a building on the water

Supermoon Blue Moon photographed from Kongekajen, Copenhagen. (Image credit: THOMAS TRAASDAHL/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Below, photographer Pablo Porciuncula captured the Supermoon Blue Moon behind the cable car of Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

a large bright full moon with a slight orange tint in the background and in front is the silhouette of a cable car.

A cable car passes in front of August's full moon, Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Image credit: PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty Images)

Photographer Henry Nicholls captured August's full moon rising over residential office buildings in the Canary Wharf business district, London, U.K. The photograph was taken from Primrose Hill in north London.

A red moon partially obscured by clouds hangs over the city lights of London

Full moon partially obscured by cloud above London, U.K. (Image credit: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

The image below shows the Supermoon Full Moon shining above Huiju Temple, a Buddhist temple situated on the slope of Mount Jiuhua, Qingyang County, Anhui, China.

A white moon aligns perfectly above a tall temple lit up by colored lights

Supermoon Blue Moon rises over Huiju Temple, Qingyang County, Anhui, China. (Image credit: Getty VCG/VCG via Getty ImagesImages)

Kevin McCarthy captured this detailed view of the Supermoon Blue Moon on Aug. 19 from Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., just before the clouds rolled in.

"Because of the approaching cloud cover, I had to act quickly to get an unobstructed photo of the moon," McCarthy told Space.com in an email. "This photo was taken hand-held, with a 150-600mm telephoto lens at full extension and cropped to show detail," McCarthy continued.

A fully illuminated moon against a black backdrop of night sky.

August's full moon photographed from Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. (Image credit: Kevin McCarthy)

Photographer J. David Ake captured August's full moon shining brightly above the U.S. Air Force Memorial spires in Arlington, Virginia, U.S.

a bright full moon behind a wisp of cloud above three large spires reaching high into the sky.

Full moo shining above the U.S. Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia, U.S. (Image credit: J. David Ake/Getty Images)

This striking image of the Supermoon Blue Moon rising over the Longquan Mountain Observation Deck on August 19, 2024, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China was captured by photographer Yang Qitian.

a large moon shines in the distance, in front is a long bridge-type observation deck with people standing on it. Their silhouettes' appears as a stark contrast on the lunar surface.

Supermoon Blue Moon rising over the Longquan Mountain Observation Deck in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. (Image credit: Yang Qitian/VCG via Getty Images)

Photographer Robbie Pesiwarissa got up at 4 a.m. to capture this stunning image of the Supermoon Blue Moon about to set over Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House at dawn.

"Although the sky [was] a little bit hazy but the color was mesmerizing," Pesiwarissa told Space.com in an email.

a dusty pink sky with a yellow hued full moon in the top right corner of the image with the Sydney skyline below, including the Sydney Opera House.

August's full moon just before dawn in Sydney, Australia. (Image credit: Robbie Pesiwarissa/Robbiesydney Photography)

This dramatic image taken by photographer Ahmet Okatali shows August's full moon rising behind the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

A massive orange moon rising behind a lit-up mosque

Supermoon Blue Moon rising above the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. (Image credit: Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkiye)

Photographer Mert Alper Dervis captured this pretty image of the Supermoon Blue Moon rising over Toronto, Canada.

A yellow moon with blurry city lights in the foreground

Full moon from Toronto, Canada. (Image credit: Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)

This iconic image of the Supermoon Blue Moon rising out of the clouds behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., was captured by photographer Gary Hershorn.

The moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty, making it appear that the statue is holding the moon

August's full moon 2024 rising behind the Statue of Liberty, New York City, U.S. (Image credit: Getty Gary Hershorn/Getty ImagesImages)

Photographer Henrique Casin has captured this colorful scene of the full moon shining next to the Cristo Rei statue in Lisbon, Portugal.

a large statue of Christ on the left is illuminated with green and red lights while the full moon shines brightly in the sky to the right of the statue.

Supermoon Blue Moon next to the Cristo Rei statue in Lisbon, Portugal. (Image credit: Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Photographer Nicolas Economou captured the full moon appearing near the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

a hazy red moon faintly shines to the right of a tall apartment block building.

Supermoon Blue Moon near the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands. (Image credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Astronomer Gianluca Masi livestreamed the rise of the Supermoon Blue Moon on the Virtual Telescope Project's WebTV page and YouTube channel. Masi then sent us this lovely view of the 100% illuminated moon as it rose over central Italy.

a fully illuminated moon against a black backdrop of sky.

Supermoon Blue Moon rising over Central Italy on Aug. 19, 2024. (Image credit: Gianluca Masi/Virtual Telescope Project)

The Supermoon Blue Moon made quite the entrance when it rose over Seville, Spain. Photographer Cristina Quicler captured the majestic scene of the full moon shining over the cathedral on Aug. 19, 2024.

The full Moon rises over the cathedral of Seville and shines a dusty orange color.

Full moon over Seville, Spain. (Image credit: CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)

Photographer Lisa Shislowski sent us this lovely image of the full moon shining above Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.

"It was a rainy day today in Broward County, but the rain started clearing around 6 p.m. My go-to place was Fort Lauderdale Beach as it still seemed cloudy to the north and south," Shislowski told Space.com in an email.

"A small moon dog was to the south of the moon as it rose in the sky. Quite an active evening," Shislowski continued.

the full moon shines bright in the distance on the left and a small 'rainbow' sundog appears on the right of the image, there are three palm trees in the foreground.

Supermoon Blue Moon and moon dog shining above Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. (Image credit: Lisa Shislowski)

Below, two people enjoy the view of the full moon rising behind Nacka, Stockholm, Sweden.

A yellow moon reflects on the water as two people sit on the shore

Supermoon Blue Moon rising behind Nacka, Stockholm, Sweden. (Image credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

This iconic photograph of the full moon rising through the Colosseum arches in Rome, Italy was captured by photographer Riccardo De Luca.

A large moon between the arches of the Colosseum

Supermoon Blue Moon rising though the Colosseum arches in Rome, Italy, on August 19, 2024. (Image credit: Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu via Getty Images)

If all this full moon excitement has inspired you to explore our rocky companion in more detail, our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching adventure — whether you're interested in exploring lunar seas, mountainous moon terrain, or the numerous craters that cover the surface. You can also track where astronauts, rovers, and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.

Searching for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon? Check out our guides on the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals available now. Additionally, our recommendations for the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture your next skywatching experience.

Originally posted on Space.com.

Daisy Dobrijevic
Reference Channel Editor, Space.com

Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 as a reference writer having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K.