'Supermoon trilogy' to light up New Zealand skies - Nasa

People gather at the base of the Cape Palliser Lighthouse in New Zealand, to view the biggest Supermoon rising for 2014. Photo / File

A supermoon is set to light up our skies this evening, but if you won't be able to witness the phenomenon, we have great news.

Tonight's supermoon was one of three opportunities to view the rare moon, an event Nasa is calling the "Supermoon Trilogy".

The moon will be at its closest to Earth during its elliptical orbit, and will be 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal.

Nasa research scientists said it was an exciting time for Kiwis.

People gather at the base of the Cape Palliser Lighthouse in New Zealand, to view the biggest Supermoon rising for 2014. Photo / File

"Supermoons are a great opportunity for people to start looking at the moon - not just that once, but every chance they have."

If you miss tonight's sighting, there will be a second supermoon on January 2, and the third will be on January 31.

Nasa says the supermoon wll appear 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter. Photo / Nasa

The third supermoon will be a "blue moon", or the second full moon in a calendar month.

It will coincide with a lunar eclipse making it both a blue and "blood moon".

Levin resident Ron Hubbard took this photo of a supermoon just 24 hours before a 7.5 magnitude quake struck near Hanmer Springs in 2016. Photo / Supplied

It is expected the moon will move into Earth's shadow at 11.51pm before the full eclipse at 1.51am.

Blue moons occur every two-and-a-half years.

To get the day's top stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.