ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Final Supermoon Of The Year Visible Over UK Skies Tonight

Final Supermoon Of The Year Visible Over UK Skies Tonight

The June full moon is also known as the Strawberry moon

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Keep your eyes to the skies tonight if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the final supermoon of the year.

The June full moon, which is also known as the Strawberry moon because it's arrival coincides with the strawberry harvests in the US, will appear bigger and brighter than a usual full moon.

PA

The moon will be at its closest point to the Earth at around dusk this evening (24 June) and will look around 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger.

Supermoons occur as the moon's orbit isn't a circular path but is actually elliptical meaning at certain points of the year it's closer to Earth than others.

Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, explained: "A supermoon is the result of a full moon occurring when the moon is near its closest point to the Earth in its orbit.

"This can occur because the moon orbits the Earth on an elliptical path, rather than a circular one.

A Strawberry supermoon above Texas in 2017.
PA

"Since this means that the moon is slightly closer to us, it appears slightly bigger in the sky."

If you're hoping to get a good look at it, Jake reckons early evening is your best bet.

He said: "The strawberry moon will be the final supermoon of 2021, and it will reach its peak on June 24 at 19:39 BST, though in the UK the moon won't rise until about an hour after this time."

He went on to say the best way to see the Strawberry moon is to look south east just after sunset and, assuming the sky isn't full of clouds, you should be able to spot it wherever you are.

PA

He added: "The moon will make its way west throughout the night before setting in the southwest just after sunrise.

"You don't need any special equipment to observe this event and there is no particular location you need to be to see it - as this is a bright full moon, as long as the skies are clear of clouds, it will be easy to spot whether you are in a light-polluted city or a dark area of countryside."

If you don't manage to see tonight's supermoon, you'll have to wait until 14 June next year for the next one.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Interesting, space