The Supermoon is going to be a highlight of this week's astronomical events, according to astronomer Tom Kerss. Supermoons typically appear three to four times a year, although there is no clearly defined definition of what makes a Supermoon 'super'. In essence, a Supermoon is a Full Moon that falls near or at the lunar perigee - the Moon's closest distance to Earth.

       The term was first coined by astrologer Richard Noelle in the 1970s and has been seized by the general public.

       Because the Moon will be slightly closer to the Earth than on other occasions, many people believe it will be bigger and brighter than usual.

       And this week's Full Moon is not the only Supermoon to appear with an extra bit of shine this year.

       A Supermoon has appeared in March, April and May, with the last coinciding with a total lunar eclipse.

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       The Moon will look exceptionally big and bright when it creeps up over the horizon, but will it be the Supermoon?

       Unfortunately, this month's Full Moon - the so-called Strawberry Moon - is due to appear on Thursday, June 24.

       The Moon will reach peak brightness at about 7.39pm BST when the Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned.

       Viewed from London, the Moon will then rise in the southeast skies at about 9.37pm BST.

       Mr Kerss, who runs the weekly podcast Star Signs: Go Stargazing!, said: "Well it's a little east to the Scorpion, in neighbouring Sagittarius, that we'll observe this week's highlight, the Full Strawberry Moon as it ripens on Thursday.

       "This is going to be the final near-perigee Full Moon of 2021, otherwise known as a Supermoon.

       "The full phase is occurring quite close to the moment when the Moon is at its closest to the Earth in its orbit, a location called perigee."

       Tomorrow's Supermoon is not going to be as spectacular as last month's, however.

       According to Mr Kerss, the Moon will be slightly smaller and not as bright as the May Flower Moon but it will "nevertheless be spectacular" when rising and setting.

       The difference in size and brightness during a Supermoon is usually not discernable to the naked eye.

       But when you look at the Supermoon during moonrise or moonset, the so-called Moon illusion kicks in.

       Mr Kerss said: "This is an entirely psychological phenomenon but it's still very impressive."

       The Moon illusion is an optical illusion that causes the Moon to appear larger near the horizon than when it is higher up in the sky.

       There are typically 12 Full Moons in any given year although you may sometimes hear of a Blue Moon.

       A Blue Moon is an additional Full Moon in a single calendar month, adding up to a total of 13 in one year.

       This year, the Full Moons fall on these dates: