Full Moon Strawberry Moon Visible Tonight

A rare phenomenon will be visible in the UK skies on Wednesday night, as a full Strawberry Moon appears larger than usual due to a "major lunar standstill," marking the lowest-hanging full Moon in the UK since 2006.

The Strawberry Moon, named after the harvest season observed by indigenous Americans, will rise in the east and set in the west, with clear skies expected over large parts of England and south-west Scotland. However, cloud is forecast in Northern Ireland, north-west Scotland, and the Western Isles, reducing the chances of a good view. The Moon's disk will be completely lit when it rises above the southeastern horizon at sunset, and its low altitude will be made more extreme by the "great lunar standstill," resulting in the lowest full moon since 2006.

The lunar standstill occurs when the moon's tilted orbit is at its greatest inclination relative to the celestial equator, causing the moon to rise and set at more extreme positions on the horizon. The Strawberry Moon's yellow-orange hue will be visible due to the Earth's atmosphere scattering shorter, blue wavelengths of the sun's reflected light. The moon may also appear to take on a reddish tinge due to its position near the horizon, but this is not related to its name.

The Strawberry Moon 2025, also known as the June full moon, is a rare occurrence that coincides with a major lunar standstill. Its name has nothing to do with its reddish tint, but rather comes from indigenous Americans who marked the beginning of the strawberry harvest. This year's strawberry moon will peak on June 11, beginning from moonrise at 10:20pm, offering a rare and striking sight in the night sky.