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Strawberry moon set to rise over Poland

29.06.2026 19:20
A so-called strawberry micromoon will be visible in the night sky over Poland from Monday into Tuesday, appearing as the smallest and faintest full moon of the year.
The full strawberry moon seen in Japan.
The full “strawberry moon” seen in Japan.Photo: On-chan, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The full moon peaks at 01:57 a.m. local time on June 30, but will look fully illuminated throughout the night.

The best viewing conditions are expected shortly after moonrise at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, when it will sit low above the southeastern horizon.

Astronomy expert Karol Wójcicki told public broadcaster Polish Radio's IAR news agency that the effect is linked to the moon’s position in its orbit and seasonal geometry after the summer solstice.

"In summer, the full moon tends to sit low on the horizon because it is opposite the sun, which is high in the sky after the summer solstice," he said.

He added that longer orbital cycles also influence how low it appears.

"About every 18 years, the moon can appear extremely low in summer, and then the pattern reverses."

The term "strawberry moon" comes from indigenous traditions in North America, marking the period when wild strawberries ripen.

In Europe, it has also been known as the "honey moon" or "hay moon."

Experts say the best views will be towards the south and south-eastern horizon.

A similarly low summer full moon is not expected again until around 2043.

(ał/gs)

Source: IAR