It's eyes to the skies again as the largest moon in our lifetime prepares to rise over Scotland.

After a year of meteor showers and comets, this much anticipated astrology event will be the closest the moon has been to Earth since January 1948.

During the event, the moon will appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than an average full moon.

The moon will become full at 13:52 GMT on Monday, so the best time to view it in the UK will be when the sun is setting in the late afternoon.

This is the closest the moon will get to Earth until November 2034, so keen snappers will be eagerly looking to capture some stellar shots.

It wasn't until 1979 that Astrologer Richard Nolle first defined the supermoon, now a widely-used term, as a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.

Supermoon now refers more broadly to a full moon that is closer to Earth than average.

Supermoons will get smaller in the future as the moon is slowly propelling itself out of Earth's orbit, moving 3.8cm further from the Earth each year.

A supermoon happens three times in 2016. On October 16 and December 14, the moon becomes full on the same day as perigee - the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the earth..

On November 14, it becomes full within about two hours of perigee, making it seem like an extra-super moon and the biggest it has looked in nearly seven decades.

It will not only the closest full moon of 2016 but also the closest full moon to date in the 21st century. The full moon won't come this close to Earth again until November 25, 2034.

If you want to catch the November 14 supermoon, be sure to find somewhere nice and dark, far away from the lights of the city, if you can.

As long as the sky is clear, you'll have a brilliant opportunity to take some photographs.

STV presenter and meteorologist Sean Batty will have a full report on Scotland's skies closer to the weekend so watch this space.

The supermoon phenomenon captures the minds of astro photographers across the world as it provides a rare opportunity to take awe-inspiring imagery of the moon at its greatest.

So just how do you go about photographing the closest full supermoon of the century?

While a fascinating subject for local photographers, taking the perfect shot isn't easy.

Experienced astro-photographer Andrew Whyte has worked with Sony to draw up a list of recommendations for enthusiastic lunar snappers.

1/ Use apps and maps to prepare for your shoot

Information about moonrise times and positions is readily available online and can be cross-referenced with maps to help confirm if the shot you're seeking is possible. Try to include a landmark or landscape feature in your scene. This usually means photographing when the moon is low to the horizon, so make sure there's nothing in the background that can obstruct your view of the moon- tall buildings, for instance, or in more rural settings, a copse of trees or distant hilltops.

2/ Do all you can to minimise vibrations

Anything that causes a camera to vibrate can lead to a loss of sharp detail in your final image. Fortunately the Sony 70-200 GM lens I used for this shoot has a built-in stabilisation feature which proved very effective at overcoming my slight natural movements. A solid tripod and cable release further helps to minimise the chance of movement.

3/ Take control of your camera

For consistent results you need to instruct the camera what settings to apply. I prefer to shoot in manual mode but shutter priority can also be used. The moon moves swiftly across the sky so, in either case, it's important to select a shutter speed above 1/100sec (or higher for longer focal lengths), then adjust brightness using ISO (manual mode) or the exposure compensation dial (shutter priority).

4/ Keep shooting and watch the scene evolve

Even the best-framed photo can be interrupted for better - or worse. From an inopportune passer-by in the foreground to a well-timed bird or plane in front of the moon. Take a few photos in quick succession for each composition and watch ahead for anything entering or leaving the frame, as some "lucky" shots are really the product of the photographer's vision and anticipation.

5/ Stay out late and get creative

As the moon rises higher and the sky darkens, so arrives the chance to capture a different kind of image. By choosing a subject much closer to your position - a contorted tree, architectural feature or even friends for a moonlit portrait - you'll help to throw the background out of focus and enjoy city lights or stars which render as soft, overlapping circles (commonly known as 'bokeh') instead of pinpricks of light.

Are you planning on taking some incredible supermoon pictures? Send them in to our STV Features desk by emailing laura.piper@stv.tv to be included in our Supermoon Scotland gallery.