BEIJING — The brightest moon in almost 69 years will be lighting up the sky this week in a treat for star watchers around the globe.

The phenomenon known as the supermoon reached its most luminescent in North America before dawn today. It will reach its zenith in Asia and the South Pacific tonight. Across the international date line in New Zealand, it will reach its brightest after midnight on Tuesday local time.

The moon orbits the Earth in an oval shape. The moon will be at its brightest this week because it is coming closer to the Earth along its elliptical orbit, closer than at any time since January 1948. The supermoon also will bring stronger than usual high tides, followed by plunging low tides the next morning.

Viewers can expect to see a moon about 14 percent larger in diameter and about 30 percent brighter than when it's at its furthest distance from the Earth. It won't be as big and bright again for another 18 years.

In 2034, the moon will come even closer, within 221,485 miles. That, too, will be a supermoon.

By The Associated Press