A supermoon has shone above Australia, creating an impressive view in the early evening sky on Sunday and bringing a king tide.

The Moon appeared bigger and bolder than usual as it passed closer to Earth just in time for a full moon.

Dr Brad Tucker from Mount Stromlo Observatory says the distance between the Moon and the Earth varies by about 50,000 kilometres, which creates the effect.

"Everyone thinks the orbit of the Moon is a perfect circle - well it's actually slightly elongated," he said.

"Because of this, at certain times the Moon will appear larger, and sometimes appear further away.

"A supermoon is when a full moon occurs when the Moon is at its closest approach to the Earth."

Mr Tucker says the most impressive view was at dusk when the Moon was close to the horizon.

He says that is mostly due to an optical illusion.

"It will actually physically be a little bit bigger, because it's closer ... (it) will appear about 10 per cent larger," he said.

"But the Moon always appears bigger on the horizon when it rises.

"That's because you actually have a scale. You have trees, you have buildings, you have mountains and so you have something to compare it to.

"When it goes up into the middle of the sky, there's nothing really else to compare it to."

Astronomer Dave Reneke says supermoons are not that rare, but tonight's is as close as the Moon will get all year.

"This is interesting isn't it? It's caught the imagination of virtually everyone around the world," he said.

"Supermoon is a catchy title to give a name to the close Moon.

"The Moon is as close as it'll be, probably for 2013.

A supermoon rising over Newcastle in 2012. ( Audience submitted: Andrew Reid )

"So the Moon's going to be bigger, a little bit bigger, a little bit brighter, but certainly more interesting for folk watching it."

Mr Reneke says while supermoons do not affect the weather, they do affect tides.

"The only thing we're going to see, is a little bit bigger tides," he said.

"More along the east coast ... further up towards the north around Cairns, I think they would notice it more than anything else."



Mr Reneke says police and hospital workers say they are always busier on nights when there is a full moon.

"People do strange things on a full moon, and this is going to be the biggest full moon of the year, and it's going to be the brightest full moon," he said.

"So stand back! It's interesting that people do that, we don't know the reason for it, but it happens every time there's a full moon."