Skywatchers in Greece are in for a rare celestial treat on the night of Tuesday, June 10, as the Strawberry Moon rises in the east and graces the sky with a unique visual twist.
Countries in the northern hemisphere will have the best view, but people in Greece will get the chance to see it rise up Tuesday evening. The full moon will reach its peak brightness early Wednesday, June 11, at 9:44 a.m. Greek time, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon is not named for its color but rather for the season. Indigenous Algonquin tribes in North America coined the term to mark the ripening of wild strawberries in June. In Europe, it has also been called the “Honey Moon” or “Mead Moon,” reflecting the season of abundance and early summer traditions.
A Rare Phenomenon
This year’s full moon is particularly special due to a rare astronomical phenomenon known as a ‘Major Lunar Standstill’, part of an 18.6-year cycle driven by the sun’s gravitational pull on the moon’s orbit. This causes the moon to rise and set at the most extreme points on the horizon, making this Strawberry Moon the lowest-hanging full moon of June since 2006.
As a result, the moon will appear unusually large and vividly colored, often with an orange or reddish hue. This visual effect occurs because the moon will be closer to the horizon and its light must travel through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and allowing the longer red ones to reach our eyes — much like during a dramatic sunset.
Astronomers note that this dramatic low moon effect won’t be seen again until 2043, making Tuesday night an exceptional viewing opportunity for stargazers across Greece and the Northern Hemisphere.
