June is a special month in many ways with lots of events. But for amateur astronomers and night owls, one event in particular stands out: Tonight, the strawberry moon shines over Munich. In June, the full moon is unusually low and therefore appears larger than average. This celestial spectacle will not be seen again in this form for almost two decades.
What is a strawberry moon?
The “strawberry moon” is the traditional name for the full moon in June and comes from Native North Americans. The name has nothing to do with the color of the moon, but refers to the time of year. This is because the strawberry harvest took place at this time. However, the moon can still have similarities to a strawberry, at least in the broadest sense: because the full moon is so close, it can appear reddish to orange when it rises and sets. This is due to an optical illusion (“moon illusion”) caused by light refraction in the atmosphere.
This time, the event is particularly rare. This is because the moon is currently in a “great lunar standstill” – during this astronomical event , the moon makes its lowest ever orbit across the sky. The full moon only appears every 18.6 years. This means that we won’t be able to marvel at a similar lunar event in the northern hemisphere again until 2043.
How and when can you see the strawberry moon in Munich?
The peak of the full moon is on the evening of June 11. The strawberry moon is best visible over Munich shortly after moonrise at 22:06. From 22:30, the moon will be low and reddish above the horizon.
Clear skies are forecast for tonight in Munich and temperatures will be a pleasant 14 to 19 degrees in the evening and at night. The conditions for observing the Strawberry Moon could hardly be better!
The moon will rise in an easterly/south-easterly direction, so look in that direction tonight. Elevated places or parks on the outskirts of the city are particularly suitable, for example the Olympiaberg in the Olympic Park or the Luitpoldpark. Or you can combine the event with a cool drink and visit one of the best rooftop terraces in Munich.