The north-east will the best places to see the “supermoon” in Scotland, forecasters have predicted.
The phenomenon will make the full lunar disc appear 14% bigger and up to 30% brighter than usual as it rises above the rooftops today.
The event, described as “undeniably beautiful” by American space agency Nasa, is the result of the moon coming closer to Earth than it has done for 69 years.
At 11.23am UK time on Monday, the gap between the Earth and the moon will close to its shortest point, known as “perigee” – a distance of 221,525 miles (356,510 km).
Skywatchers will be hoping to catch a clearer glimpse this evening after the sun sets and experts believe enthusiasts could be in for some stunning scenes.
Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: “It will be above rooftops and trees and chimneys and always appears bigger that way because you’re comparing it to foreground objects.
“I’m always pleased for people to get their binoculars out and look up at the craters and the seas.”
Mike Alexander, from the Galloway Astronomy Centre, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “What you get when it’s rising is a thing called moon illusion when it appears much, much bigger than it does when it’s high in the sky.
“At moonrise it will look bigger and be a nice effect.”
However, Mr Alexander cautioned against too much excitement among moon-watchers in Scotland.
“I’ve been watching the weather all week for Scotland. If you’re very lucky you might catch it,” he said.
According to the Met Office, the north is set to experience a band of rain moving in this evening but should still miss Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The forecast makes the north-east the ideal place to look up at the skies, with the moon not set to be this close to Earth again until 25 November 2034.
