While the sight of the moon in its full size and glory will always be a spectacular sight, the next full moon on June 11 is bound to cause goosebumps. The so-called “Strawberry Moon” will be the lowest moon seen in Switzerland for over 18 years.
On the night of June 11, the full moon is expected to rise in the night sky across the cantons. Though it peaks at around 9.43am Swiss time on Wednesday, it should be visible in all its glory in the evening.
In Switzerland, the spectacular moon will rise in the southeast at 10.15pm on June 11, making the late hours of the evening the perfect time to see it. It will then pass from southeast to southwest, before dipping beneath the horizon at 5.42am on June 12.
While it is slightly pinkish in colour, the full moon's name, Strawberry Moon, comes from the fact that it is the time of year when the wild fruit is ready for harvest. In fact, a number of Native American tribes used the rising of the Strawberry Moon as a signal to start harvesting wild berries.
This year, the Strawberry Moon is an extremely rare treat for stargazers, as it is the lowest full moon that is possible to see in the Northern Hemisphere. This is thanks to what is called a “major lunar standstill”, when the moon reaches the extremes of its orbit around Earth.
At its highest, the moon will only be 13 degrees above the horizon, and thanks to this low arc, the colours of the moon also appear warmer. What’s more, you’ll have a long time to wait if you miss this celestial treat. A “major lunar standstill” only occurs once every 18,6 years, meaning the next occasion to see it will be in the early months of 2044.
To get the best view of the special Strawberry Moon, be sure to get out of cities and head to places with little to no human-made light pollution. This can be in fields, forests and, if you are lucky, up mountains or boating on lakes.