'Supermoon' lights up the sky

The biggest full moon of the year rises on May 5 as Earth's only satellite swings into its perigee, or closest approach to Earth. This so-called "supermoon" appears extra big and extra bright.

In a once-a-year cosmic show, overshadowing a meteor shower from remnants of Halley's Comet, the U.S. space agency NASA said. The Moon will seem especially big and bright since it will reach its closest spot to Earth at the same time it is in its full phase, NASA said.

The "supermoon" rises over the Renkert Building, Saturday, May 5, 2012 in Canton, Ohio. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night, May 5 as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual.

The "supermoon" rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, south east of Athens, Greece, while tourists watch, on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Saturday's event is a "supermoon," the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year.

The "supermoon" rises behind statues of angels fixed at the St. Isaak's Cathedral in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2012. Saturday's event is a "supermoon," the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year.