Tonight features the Full Strawberry Moon, which will be notably lower in the sky due to a rare phenomenon known as 'major lunar standstill.' This event, occurring approximately every 18.6 years, ensures the moonrise and moonset are at their furthest points along the horizon, making the moon appear significantly lower, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Traditionally, the Strawberry Moon refers to the June full moon, named after the strawberry harvest, not the moon's color. This event provides a unique viewing opportunity for skygazers, especially in northern regions like the UK.
The moon will appear unusually low on the southern horizon,' Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, told MailOnline. 'It will appear very dramatic, especially in northern parts of the UK.'
But it's a common misconception that the name 'Strawberry Moon' refers to the moon's colour or any kind of resemblance to the popular summer fruit.
Major lunar standstill occurs about once every 18.6 years, making the moonrise and moonset furthest apart along the horizon, causing the moon to be unusually low.
June's full moon is known as Strawberry Moon because it historically appeared when the strawberry harvest first took place.
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