Strawberry Moon - moonrise tomorrow night Tuesday

WhatThe

A full Strawberry Moon will appear in UK skies this week coupled with a rare phenomenon not seen in almost 20 years.

On 11 June, stargazers in the northern hemisphere will be able to spot the full Moon sitting very low in the southern sky, making it appear much larger than usual.

Caused by an event known as a 'major lunar standstill', the opportunity will not arise again until 2043.

What is the Strawberry Moon and why is this one rare?

The Strawberry Moon is the name given to the full Moon in June. It is named after the harvest season observed by indigenous Americans, signalling the time of year that wild strawberries were harvested, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, external.

Full moons were given nicknames to help keep track of time and monitor the changing seasons.

June's full Moon is usually the lowest-hanging of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is likely to be exaggerated this month as a result of a 'major lunar standstill' which took place earlier this year - the effects of which can still be seen.

This is when the Moon reaches the extremes of its orbit around the Earth, rising and setting at its most northerly and southerly positions on the horizon. It happens every 18.6 years and the effects are most visible during a full Moon.

Another Moon this low is not expected until 2043.

Image source, ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image caption,

The Strawberry Moon, rises behind Victoria Tower in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 202

Bluebell21

Thank you for sharing this information @WhatThe

WhatThe

Plus a special mention to our sweet Strawberry friend on this special night

🍓

Rosie_Scope

Oooh I'm looking forward to seeing this if the skies are clear! Thanks for sharing @WhatThe ☺️