Sensation in the Dresden night sky: The rare strawberry moon shines!

Sensation in the Dresden night sky: The rare strawberry moon shines!

On the night of June 11th to 12th, 2025, many stargazers in Dresden and the surrounding area could look forward to something very special: the June full moon, also known as the “strawberry moon,” lit up the night sky. Dozens of people gathered along the Dresden Heller from around 10:20 p.m. to capture this unique natural spectacle with their cell phones and cameras Day24 reported.

The visibility conditions were particularly good in Saxony, with the moon also shining brightly in Upper Lusatia. The “Strawberry Moon” gets its name from the Algonquin, an indigenous people of North America, who associate it with the strawberry harvest in June. What is less known is that the reddish color of the Moon is not guaranteed in this observation; it mainly occurs when the moon is low in the sky and is subject to the light scattering phenomenon.

A major astronomical event

What's special this year is that the 2025 Strawberry Moon will be the deepest full moon in the Northern Hemisphere since 2007. The moon was floating in what is known as the great lunar standstill, meaning its orbit is particularly deep on an 18.6-year cycle. This astronomical rarity makes the sight all the more fascinating, as such a moon position is not expected again until 2043. The Weather describes the exact details of this event.

But why does the moon actually glow so red? This is due to two main factors: on the one hand, the moon is low above the horizon at this time, and on the other hand, high levels of particulate matter in the atmosphere cause these impressive colors. SRF explains that both Rayleigh and Mie scattering are responsible for the fact that short-wave light is scattered more strongly and so the longer-wave, reddish tones dominate the light.

A spectacle that stimulates research

The reddish color of the moon is not only a beautiful sight, but can also provide important data for research. Elevated levels of particulate matter caused by wildfires in Canada, Russia and southern Europe are increasing the reddish appearance of the moon and may serve as a warning sign of air pollution. Satellite systems such as Copernicus and MODIS report high aerosol levels in the Northern Hemisphere, which are linked to the health of the atmosphere. Such observations provide valuable information for analyzing the effects of aerosols on climate change and general air quality.

So the Strawberry Moon is not only a festive spectacle for the eyes, but also an opportunity for scientists to learn more about the connections between air pollution and climate change. This full moon on June 12, 2025 will be remembered not only because it was more beautiful to look at than many of its predecessors, but also as an instructive event in astronomy.