IN PICTURES | Supermoon 2017: The first and only supermoon of the year wows the sky gazers

Stargazers were in for a treat on Sunday as they could catch a glimpse of the so-called 'supermoon' when the Moon appears bigger and brighter in the sky as it moves closer to Earth. December's full moon is traditionally known as the 'cold moon'. IN PIC: The moon rises in its waxing gibbous stage behind a statue atop the Erie County Court Building, Saturday, December 2, 2017, in Buffalo, New York.

Stargazers were in for a treat on Sunday as they could catch a glimpse of the so-called 'supermoon' when the Moon appears bigger and brighter in the sky as it moves closer to Earth. December's full moon is traditionally known as the 'cold moon'. IN PIC: T 

The full moon on Sunday night marked the first and only supermoon of 2017. IN PIC: The moon rises over the CN Tower and skyline in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo | AP)

According to NASA, a supermoon is a Moon that is full when it is also at or near its closest point in its orbit around Earth. IN PIC: The moon rises behind the Uppatasanti Pagoda seen in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, December 3, 2017. (Photo | AP)

A view of Super Moon in Chennai. (EPS | Martin Louis)

Since the Moon's orbit is elliptical, one side (apogee) is about 50,000 km farther from Earth than the other (perigee). IN PIC: A supermoon rises in front of a replica of the Statue of Liberty sitting atop the Liberty Building in downtown Buffalo, N.Y., Sunday, December 3, 2017. (Photo | AP)

But within this orbit, further variations can be caused by the Earth's movements around the Sun. IN PIC: The moon rises over the CN Tower and skyline in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo | AP)

In 2016, the Moon made its closest approach to Earth since 1948. It won't be that close again until November 25, 2034. IN PIC:The moon rises over Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., after President Donald Trump returned from New York where he attended a trio of fundraisers. (Photo | AP)

In 2016, the Moon made its closest approach to Earth since 1948. It won't be that close again until November 25, 2034. IN PIC:The moon rises over Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Md.,after President Donald Trump returned from New York where he attended a trio of fundraisers. (Photo | AP)