June not only marks the astronomical beginning of summer with the summer solstice on June 21 at 4:42 am, but also has a very special full moon in store for you. This is known as the “strawberry moon” – and not because of its color, as many people assume. The term originally comes from the Algonquins, an indigenous people of North America who harvested strawberries in June.
In Germany, the same moon is also known as the “rose moon”, as roses are in full bloom at this time. But regardless of the name, a very special celestial event awaits us this time: on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, June 11, at exactly 22:09, the full moon will be particularly low above the Berlin horizon – lower than it has been since 2007. When will you next be able to experience this natural spectacle? Not until 2043! So stay tuned and find out here when and where you can best observe the strawberry moon in Berlin.
How does this natural phenomenon come about?
The lowest full moon in almost two decades is imminent, and the reason for this is the so-called great lunar standstill, an astronomical phenomenon that occurs every 18.6 years. During this phase, the moon’s orbit is particularly flat, which means that the moon – as already mentioned – is exceptionally low in the sky. For observers in the northern hemisphere, this makes it appear particularly large and colorful.
In the southern hemisphere, on the other hand, the moon reaches its highest position in this cycle until 2043, as reported by various astronomy platforms. NASA explains this rare celestial event as a consequence of the so-called ecliptic precession – a complex, long-term cycle that is triggered by the inclined rotational axes of the Earth and Moon and influences the apparent orbit of the Moon in the sky.
What does the Strawberry Moon look like?
The Strawberry Moon can appear very large and reddish, but neither is guaranteed. These effects occur more frequently when the moon is particularly low in the sky. In this case, the moonlight reflected by the sun has to travel a longer distance through the Earth’s atmosphere than when the moon is high in the sky. Short-wave, i.e. bluish light, is scattered more than long-wave red light. The blue light gradually disappears from the field of vision – what remains is a warmer, reddish glow.
And why does the moon sometimes appear larger? This question has not yet been clearly answered. One thing is certain: it is an optical illusion. Our brain probably compares the low moon with earthly objects such as trees or houses, which makes it appear larger than further up in the sky.
Where you can see the moon best in Berlin
According to the Vereinigung der Sternfreunde (VdS), the Strawberry Moon will unfold its full splendor tonight at around 22:09 CEST. The moonrise will follow shortly afterwards, at around 22:30. And there is good news: The chances of an uninterrupted view are excellent. The German Weather Service (DWD) is predicting a slightly cloudy but mostly clear sky – perfect conditions for this impressive natural phenomenon.
Spacious locations with an open horizon are particularly suitable for observing, such as Tempelhofer Feld, Teufelsberg in Grunewald with its famous view of the skyline or the neighboring Drachenberg, which offers ideal viewing conditions with its height of around 99 meters and low forest cover. Alternatively, you can also enjoy the strawberry moon from rooftop terraces – for example from the terrace of the Humboldt Forum or other rooftops that you can discover here!