Supermoon 2019 tonight in the UK: Why is it called a super snow moon and how to see the spectacular lunar event

Experts are predicting stargazers will be treated to the largest supermoon of the year tonight.

Those lucky enough be under clear skies on February 19 can glimpse what is promising to be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year so far, the super snow moon.

Tonight's moon is the second of three supermoons to be visible in the night sky this year, the first falling on January 21 and the last on March 21.

When is the super snow moon?

According to Dr Francisco Diego, senior teaching fellow at University College London’s (UCL) physics and astronomy department, the moon will reach its brightest point at 3.53pm UK time on February 19.

However at this time the sun will be above the horizon, meaning the moon will not be visible in Britain.

Dr Diego said that instead you will have to wait until the moon rises at around 5.20pm to catch a glimpse of it.

"The full moon is at 3pm tomorrow afternoon, but we will not see it because it will take another two hours to rise," he told The Standard.

"By then it's getting smaller, but it will be a supermoon on the 19th as soon as it rises at 5.20pm."

How to watch the supermoon

Some of the best spots to see the moon will be on hills such as Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill and Alexandra Palace.

Dr Diego, who who appeared on Stephen Hawking’s Universe TV show, added: "The best places to see it are the top of hills that have clear views to the east and the west."

If the sky is clear, stargazers will have a better chance of seeing the supermoon as cloud hampers the view.

"I hope we manage to see something," said Dr Diego. "If it's clear I will be there somewhere with a camera or a pair of binoculars to look at it."

What is a supermoon?

The last full moon was on January 21, when three lunar phenomenon combined to create a rare super blood moon eclipse.

The rare phenomenon, caused in part by a lunar eclipse, makes the surface of the moon appear red while seeming brighter and closer to earth than normal.

And while Tuesday's moon will be not glowing in such an eerie red way, Dr Diego still highlighted the impressive nature of the specacle.

He said: "It really is a spectacular thing to see, the full moon rising. A lot of people go to the bridges on the Thames, as you have the moon low in the sky and you have the possibility of having a very nice framing.

"During the night we will have a lot of light in the night as it will be a lot brighter than usual."

A supermoon is when a full moon appears in the sky around 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.

The next one isn't until March, and Dr Diego precicts that this one will still be "quite big but not as big as the one this week".

"Although the difference between the full moon in January or in March in minute, the one this month is a little big bigger."

What is a snow moon?

Ancient Native American tribes and Europeans used to mark the changing seasons by following the lunar months, naming the months after the features associated with that season.

The early moon is therefore known as a snow moon because this time of year is when heavy snow falls. It is also called the Full Hunger Moon, because it was hard to hunt in the snow and people often went hungry.