Overview

• The full moon reached peak illumination at 8:44 a.m. BST on June 11 and is now visible low over the southeastern horizon
• This event marks the first major lunar standstill since 2006, a cycle that repeats every 18.6 years and won’t recur until 2043
• Sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere near the horizon creates a magnified ‘moon illusion’ and enhances orange-red hues on the lunar surface
• June’s full moon carries the name Strawberry Moon from the ripening of wild strawberries and is also called the Rose Moon or Hot Moon in other cultures
• The best viewing windows are after moonrise at about 9:45 p.m. BST on June 10 and 10:48 p.m. on June 11 when the moon hovers just above the horizon