It is set to be the biggest and brightest moon in decades but many Australians likely won't be able to see it.
But Australians hoping to catch some dazzling night-time rays may be disappointed, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting cloudy conditions for most capital cities.
Only Brisbane and Perth can expect clear skies on Monday night, while Hobart might be lucky with breaks in the clouds.
The moon's elliptical circuit around the earth means it is sometimes closer than other times, and tonight is the closest it has been in 68 years.
The moon’s average distance from Earth is approximately 385,000km, according to NASA. Tonight the moon will be at its perigee — the closest point in its orbit to the Earth — around 30,000km closer than that average.
That closeness combined with a full moon will mean the celestial body will look between 12 to 14 percent larger and 25 to 30 percent brighter than normal, Australian astronomer Tayyaba Zafar told National Geographic.
Three supermoons are scheduled to occur this year, with one in September and another expected for December 14.
Another supermoon is expected on January 2, 2018, although the body will complete its orbit at an increased distance of 48km.
Tonight’s supermoon will be the closest since 1948 and the moon is not expected to approach Earth as closely until 2034.
Best places to see the supermoon
"My advice to people is to start looking towards the east where the moon is going to be rising, even before the sun sets," Astronomical Society of Victoria vice-president Perry Vlahos said on Sunday.
"I would say start at least when the sun is setting, but maybe even a little bit earlier."
Mr Vlahos said an east-facing beach, tall building or hill would be the best place to view the moon from on Monday afternoon and evening.
"(But) if you miss it (on Monday) night, the next night will be almost just as good," he said.
9NEWS advises readers to avoid areas with strong light pollution from artificial light sources, such as metropolitan areas.
Coastline areas such as Sydney’s Bondi Beach or Melbourne’s Williamstown Esplanade for example may prove ideal spots.
Many Facebook users are staging open events to help mark the occasion, with specific locations in mind.
Photography tips
* Secure a well-placed position in advance
* Use a SLR or DSLR and shoot in maximum resolution or RAW format to ensure the highest quality image possible
* If you don’t have access to a camera, you can use your phone camera, but avoid using digital zoom as this will degrade image quality
* Use a tripod to prevent camera shake and weight it for stability
* Use a lens with a long focal length (i.e. a telephoto lens) to get a closer view of the phenomenon
* Expose your image correctly to ensure your camera captures the moon’s surface detail, including lunar landmarks
* Frame your shot to include local landmarks or points of interest for contrast
* Experiment with shot positioning and camera settings (ISO and exposure in particular)
A trick of the eye
The moon will be close to the earth, but it will look especially large on the horizon, thanks to an optical trick known as the "moon illusion".
The moon looks huge on the horizon because human eyes try to compare it to other things in the way, like trees or buildings.
"It gives us an impression of the moon being enormous compared to those things," Mr Vlahos said.
"In fact the moon is closer when it's in the middle of the sky than when it is on the horizon.”
Moonrise times
* Sydney – 7.07pm
* Melbourne – 7.40pm
* Brisbane – 5.51pm
* Perth – 6.33pm
* Darwin – 6:37pm
For other locations, visit timeanddate.com.