UAE residents were treated to a historic celestial display on Wednesday evening as a rare Strawberry Moon rose over the eastern horizon, casting a soft, slightly pinkish glow for a few minutes that wowed many sky watchers.
Although astronomers had earlier noted the full Moon would not actually appear pink despite its sweet-sounding name, the initial moonrise presented a delicate blush as it hovered low over the horizon, likely due to atmospheric dust and light scattering. This made the experience even more magical for those who caught it live across the Emirates.
Gulf News photographers captured the rare full Moon from three vantage points in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, showcasing its pink-to-orange hues and low-slung position in the sky.
This Strawberry Moon was particularly special due to its position in the lunar cycle. It is the lowest Full Moon in the sky until 2043, a rare astronomical alignment linked to the Great Lunar Standstill, which occurs only once every 18.6 years.
“In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the lowest full Moon we’ll see until 2043. It rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon,” said Khadijah Hasan Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, speaking to Gulf News ahead of the event.
The term “Strawberry Moon” originates from Native American traditions, marking the time of year when strawberries are harvested. While it doesn’t refer to the Moon’s colour, this year’s appearance gave many residents a rare visual treat as the Moon appeared larger and slightly pink as it crested the horizon.
