Legendary NASA astronaut has expressed excitement for the appearance of a Strawberry Moon tonight, saying it will be the 'best lunar views in 20 years'

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, shared on social media that the moon 'is projected to have a rather low arc across the sky due to the lunar standstill and will appear quite large.'

The low arc is caused by a phenomenon called a 'major lunar standstill,' which occurs once every 18.6 years.

During this time, the moon's orbit reaches its steepest tilt, causing it to rise and set at its most extreme points on the horizon.

As a result, summer full moons like tonight's travel much lower in the sky than usual.

The full moon will rise just after sunset on Tuesday, June 10, and shine brightest early Wednesday morning, June 11.  

The full phase will peak at 3:44am ET, but the best viewing time is shortly after moonrise Tuesday evening. 

Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere will see the moon glowing orange or yellow near the southern horizon, thanks to atmospheric light scattering.

The name 'Strawberry Moon' is a traditional title given to the full moon that appears in June and has historically coincided with the start of the strawberry harvest.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not refer to the moon's color or any resemblance to the fruit itself.

Full moons have long been assigned nicknames based on the month they occur, a practice dating back hundreds of years. 

NASA notes this year's Strawberry Moon will also appear near the bright center of the Milky Way, visible during the June through August 'core season.'

The moon's unusually low path tonight is a direct result of its 18.6-year lunar cycle, known as a lunistice, a point when the moon's orbit tilts to its greatest angle relative to Earth's equator.

This tilt means the moon rises and sets farther north or south on the horizon than usual, following a shallower or higher arc depending on the season. 

NASA explains this occurs because the moon's tilted orbit interacts with Earth's own tilted axis and orbit around the sun, causing long-term shifts in the moon's apparent trajectory.

At this time, the 'moon illusion' makes the moon appear larger near the horizon, a psychological effect that doesn't change the moon's actual size but makes the sight especially striking.

The moon's glow often appears soft orange or yellow near the horizon because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths, allowing longer red and yellow light to reach the eye, similar to a sunset effect.

For those hoping to catch the Strawberry Moon, open fields, hilltops or coastal areas facing the southeast horizon offer the clearest views.

No special equipment is needed to enjoy the event, though binoculars or a telescope can reveal more detail.

The moon's shifting rise and set points have been observed and tracked by cultures worldwide for centuries. 

Ancient monuments like Stonehenge are believed to align not only with solar solstices but also with lunar standstills like tonight's.