Photos: Supermoon casts its brilliant glow over Earth

This weekend’s full moon coincided with its closest approach to Earth, a phenomenon known colloquially as a “supermoon.” (In astronomical circles, it’s called a perigee-syzygy moon.)

The supermoon is larger and brighter than an average moon, though the difference isn’t enormous. Many people, in any event, use it as an occasion to dwell on Earth’s only natural satellite. Sri Lankans also mark the supermoon by celebrating the introduction of Buddhism to the country, from India, in 250 BC.