Dubai, UAE – June 10, 2025 – Stargazers and sky-watchers in the UAE are in for a celestial treat tomorrow, Wednesday, June 11, as the rare Strawberry Moon – the last full Moon of Spring 2025 – is confirmed to be visible. What makes this event particularly special is its exceptionally low appearance in the sky, a phenomenon that won’t recur until 2043.
“The Strawberry Moon will be visible in the UAE, with moonrise at approximately 7:32 PM on June 11 and moonset at 5:55 AM on June 12,” Khadijah Hasan Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG), confirmed to Gulf News on Tuesday. She assured residents that the spectacle would be visible across the entire UAE and that no special equipment is needed to witness it.
For optimal viewing, residents are advised to simply step outside and look toward the eastern horizon shortly after moonrise at 7:32 PM. The Strawberry Moon will be clearly visible to the naked eye under clear skies. Khadijah explained that the best vantage points include open areas like beaches, deserts, or elevated locations, though it can still be seen from urban areas with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. For those seeking an enhanced experience, “using binoculars or telescopes would definitely improve the view,” she added.
Khadijah highlighted the visual appeal of the event, describing it as “a beautiful, easy-to-watch celestial event that connects us with the universe because the Strawberry Moon is the last full Moon of Spring and one of the most visually striking, often appearing larger and more golden when it rises.”
Despite its evocative name, the Strawberry Moon will not appear pink or red. Its typical yellow or orange hue is a result of atmospheric conditions when it is low on the horizon.
The unique aspect of this particular Full Strawberry Moon is its rare alignment with a “Great Lunar Standstill,” an astronomical phenomenon that occurs approximately every 18.6 years. “In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be the lowest Full Moon until 2043, staying unusually close to the horizon. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be the highest Full Moon until 2043,” Khadijah explained, quoting astronomy app Star Walk 2.
She elaborated that this rare positioning is due to the major lunar standstill cycle. This means it will be the lowest Full Moon in 18.6 years for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, rising and setting at its most extreme south-easterly and south-westerly points. Conversely, those in the Southern Hemisphere will witness their highest Full Moon this month, with their lowest appearing in December.
Khadijah further clarified that the Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5.1 degrees relative to the Earth’s path around the Sun (the ecliptic). Given that the Earth’s axis is also tilted 23.4 degrees, during a major standstill, these tilts combine. This allows the Moon to rise and set at its most extreme points on the horizon, moving farther north and farther south than usual, which in turn makes the Moon appear either higher or lower in the sky than normal.
