Every year in June, a special celestial spectacle takes place: tonight, the strawberry moon shines over Vienna. This month, the full moon is unusually low and therefore appears larger than average. The event is an absolute highlight for amateur astronomers and night owls that will not happen 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, as this is when the strawberry harvest took place. The name has nothing to do with the color of the moon, but refers to the time of year. Nevertheless, the full moon can appear reddish to orange when it rises and sets. This is an optical illusion (“moon illusion”) and is caused by light refraction in the atmosphere.
This time the event is particularly rare. This is because the moon has been in a “great lunar standstill” since last year – an astronomical event in which the moon makes its lowest orbit across the sky. The full moon only appears in this rare constellation every 18.6 years. There will not be another similar lunar event in the northern hemisphere until 2043.
How and when can you see the strawberry moon in Vienna?
The peak of the full moon is on June 11 at 9:43 am. However, the strawberry moon is best visible in Vienna in the evening between 9:30 and 10:00 pm.
Clear skies and pleasant temperatures (17-19 degrees) are forecast for this evening in Vienna : the conditions for observing the Strawberry Moon over Vienna could hardly be better!
The moon will rise in an easterly direction, so it’s best to look for a place with a clear view of the eastern horizon. Recommended locations are the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg or the Urania Observatory. If you want to combine the event with a cool drink, visit one of the best rooftop terraces in Vienna and marvel at the sky.