Best places in Scotland to see tonight's extremely low Strawberry Moon
Tonight will see a rare astrological event known as the 'major lunar standstill' in which the Strawberry Moon - the name for June's Full Moon- will appear extremely low on the horizon. Although we see a Full Moon roughly every month, tonight's will be extra special- but particularly difficult to spot.
While the Strawberry Moon is usually the lowest Full Moon of the year, it hasn't appeared so low in the sky since 2006, and won't be again until 2043. This is because of the major lunar standstill, which occurs once every 18.6 years.
Across the moon's nearly 20-year-long cycle, it follows a tilted orbit around Earth. Major and minor lunar standstills occur when the Moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon, appearing unusually low or high in the sky. During the Strawberry Moon, Earth will be approaching its farthest distance from the Sun in its orbit.
The Moon will also be as far from the Sun as it can possibly be in its orbit around Earth, in one of the furthest full moons from the Sun of the year.
The Strawberry Moon will rise tonight, June 11 at 10.46pm BST, and it reached its full phase at 8.44am BST.
But to catch this extremely low moon tonight, a clear horizon and a dark sky will be necessary to avoid obstructions.
Here are some of the best places in Scotland to catch the Strawberry Moon this evening.
Where can you see the low Strawberry Moon tonight?
Beaches
A beach is one of the best places to go for an unobstructed horizon, and Scotland is home to many.
The best beach for stargazing, however, is Luskentyre Beach on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
This beach's lack of light pollution has led to it being named one of the best in the whole of the UK for observing the wonders of the night sky.
For those on the mainland, almost any beach will be a great spot for catching the June Full Moon.
Plains
Perhaps harder to find in the rolling hills of Scotland, a grassy field or plain is another perfect choice of place for amateur stargazers to see the low-down Moon tonight.
Large, flat areas of land are more commonly found in the lowlands of Scotland compared to the mountains of the Highlands.
If you live nearby any farmland or wide open fields, you may be in proximity to a great viewing spot for the Strawberry Moon.
Mountains or hills
If you can't find any flat low land due to Scotland's vibrant landscape of rolling hills, you could consider climbing high enough that they won't obstruct the skyline.
Scotland is home to countless hills, and some are particularly good for stargazing.
For those in proximity to Glasgow, Ballageich Hill is just 25 minutes away by car, and Conic Hill is a short climb near Balmaha that's around an hour away from the city.
However, if you're planning to climb a hill or mountain at night, it's vital to be well-equipped with good shoes, appropriate clothing, a torch (red-light torches are recommended to prevent disturbing wildlife) as well as a working phone in case of emergency.
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