Supermoon glows around the globe

A "supermoon" is seen behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, May 6, 2012. A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon (or a new moon) with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth.(Photo/AP)

A runner makes his way along a trail on a butte in front of the "supermoon" at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona May 5, 2012.(Photo/Reuters)

The "supermoon" appears behind statues of angels fixed at the St. Isaak's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2012.(Photo/AP)

The "supermoon" appears behind the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, south east of Athens, Greece, while tourists watch, on Saturday, May 5, 2012. (Photo/AP)

The "supermoon" appears behind the Mare shanty town complex in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, May 6, 2012.(Photo/AP)

It may have been only an optical illusion, but what a sight. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrived Saturday night and glowed around the world.

In Brazil it illuminated the landmark Christ the Redeemer statue and later set behind a shanty town. In Florida, fishermen worked their lines amid the moonlight in Bal Harbour. And near Athens, tourists watched as the moon rose behind the Temple of Poseidon.

The moon was the closest it will get to the Earth this year — and appeared 14 percent larger because of that. At its peak it was about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average.

Here are images of the supermoon from around the world.

(Agencies)