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Next week, skywatchers in the UK will be treated to a striking astronomical event known as the Strawberry Moon—the name given to June’s full Moon, which is the sixth full Moon of the year. While the term may suggest a reddish-pink appearance, it actually has no connection to the Moon's color. Instead, the name originates from Native American tribes like the Algonquin, who used it to mark the time of year when wild strawberries ripen in the northeastern United States. Other tribal groups refer to it as the Blackberry Moon or Raspberry Moon, depending on the berries local to their region. In Europe, it’s sometimes called the Rose Moon, while others know it as the Hot Moon, signalling the arrival of summer heat.
This year’s Strawberry Moon, however, will be especially significant. According to experts, it will be the lowest-hanging full Moon in nearly two decades—the lowest since 2006—and we won’t see it this low again until 2043. This is due to a rare astronomical event known as a major lunar standstill, which happens only once every 18.6 years. During this time, the Moon rises and sets at its extreme northern and southern points on the horizon, and appears much lower in the sky than usual.
When the Moon is low, its light must travel through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere. This atmospheric filtering scatters the shorter blue wavelengths and allows more of the longer red and orange wavelengths to reach our eyes, which can give the Moon a warm, rusty, or orange hue—especially as it hovers near the horizon. BBC experts explain that this visual effect is purely a matter of perspective and light, not an actual change in the Moon’s color or surface.
Adding to the beauty of this cosmic show, the Moon will appear in the same part of the sky as Antares, a massive red supergiant star in the Scorpius constellation. Sometimes referred to as the "rival of Mars", Antares shines with a deep reddish glow, indicating a relatively cool surface temperature. Though cooler, it’s absolutely enormous—estimated to be 600 to 800 times wider than our Sun—and is approaching the final stages of its stellar life.
If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare lunar event, mark your calendar: the Strawberry Moon will rise in the UK on Wednesday at 10:46 PM BST, according to Sky at Night Magazine. While you shouldn’t expect the Moon to literally appear strawberry-colored, its low position, potential orange hue, and proximity to the glowing red Antares star will make for a truly breathtaking sight in the night sky.
