'Full-flower supermoon' rises on world starting to emerge from pandemic lockdowns

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, is seen above Tower Bridge, London, Britain, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

The last "supermoon" of 2020 rose in the night sky on Thursday over a world beginning to re-emerge after weeks of coronavirus-related lockdowns.

The supermoon phenomenon occurs when the moon is within 10% of its closest distance to the Earth at the full moon. May's full moon - at the height of the Northern Hemisphere spring - is also called a "flower moon" - hence Thursday's "full-flower supermoon."

The year's two previous supermoons occurred in March and April.

The Supermoon rises over the city of Caracas in an astronomical event that occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit, making it appear much larger and brighter than usual, in Caracas, Venezuela May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero

Clouds over much of Europe and Asia obscured views of the moon, which appears slightly larger than usual - and the streets remained relatively quiet, with many countries still imposing coronavirus-related restrictions.

But from Hong Kong to Jerusalem to Caracas, some locals donned masks and ventured out to take photos of the celestial spectacle.

A Supermoon is seen behind a Ferris-wheel which went into a halt amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, May 7,2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

(Writing by Rosalba O'Brien in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)

A person wearing a protective facemark is pictured next to a Ferris-wheel, as a Supermoon rises, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises between clouds above Ronda, southern Spain, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, is seen above Tower Bridge, London, Britain, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, is seen next to Tower Bridge, London, Britain, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises over Chesterton Windmill, Chesterton, Britain, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Paul Childs

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) above Vienna, Austria, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

The full moon, also known as Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises over a mosque minaret on the 14th day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Amman, Jordan May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises above the Camlica Mosque during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Istanbul, Turkey, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

A ranger's tower is silhouetted over a Supermoon near Ruhama in south Israel May 7, 2020 REUTERS/ Amir Cohen

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises behind the silhouetted crescent monument of a mosque during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises behind the silhouetted cross of the St. Andrews Church, as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises over New Delhi, India, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi