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The June full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, rises in an exceptionally low arc across the sky; and according to legendary NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, this lunar event will offer one of the most spectacular moon views seen from Earth in 20 years.
The 95-year-old, the second human to walk on the moon, expressed his excitement on social media, noting the rare conditions that will make tonight's moonrise particularly remarkable.
"The moon is projected to have a rather low arc across the sky," Aldrin wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter. "Due to the lunar standstill and will appear quite large.
The cause of this unusual appearance lies in a rare astronomical phenomenon known as a major lunar standstill, which only occurs once every 18.6 years, and during this period, the moon's orbit reaches its maximum tilt relative to Earth's equator.
This causes full moons, especially in summer, to follow a much lower path across the sky in the Northern Hemisphere and will subsequently appear considerably larger than usual.
When to Watch the Strawberry Moon: How to see June's Full Moon
The full moon will rise shortly after sunset on Tuesday, June 10, and will reach its peak brightness in the early hours of Wednesday morning at 03:44 ET/00:44 PT. However, the most visually striking moment will occur just after moonrise on Tuesday evening, when the moon appears near the southern horizon.
Because of the atmospheric conditions at this low angle, the moon will appear unusually large and will take on a glowing yellow or orange hue due to atmospheric light scattering, which filters out shorter blue wavelengths and allows warmer tones to dominate.
This is similar to the effect observed during sunrise or sunset and is often referred to as the "moon illusion," as it enhances the moon's apparent size, although its actual dimensions remain unchanged.
NASA has also noted that this particular full moon will be positioned near the bright center of the Milky Way galaxy. This alignment, which is most visible during the core season from June through August, adds an extra dimension of beauty to the event, particularly for observers in dark-sky areas.
The reason behind the name of the Strawberry Moon
The name "Strawberry Moon" dates back to Native American and European traditions and marks the beginning of the strawberry harvesting season. Despite the name, the moon's color is not affected by the fruit or the season.
The name is so ancient that stone structures, like the iconic Stonehenge, and other dated monuments are believed to be aligned not only with the solar solstices but also with lunar standstills such as June 10, indicating the deep historical significance of such rare lunar events.
To observe the Strawberry Moon, NASA recommends open spaces with a clear view of the southeastern horizon-such as coastal areas, hilltops, or rural fields. No specialized equipment is needed, though binoculars or a telescope can enhance the experience.