Wild swimmers prepare for Strawberry Moon dip

A full Strawberry Moon will grace UK skies tonight, coupled with a rare phenomenon not to be seen for almost 20 years.

Stargazers in the northern hemisphere already spotted an almost full moon sitting very low in the sky on Tuesday, but the full peak of the moon will appear later.

BBC Weather presenter Sophia Herod said the Strawberry Moon would be "the lowest full moon until 2043" and may appear red.

Many wild swimmers around Devon and Cornwall are preparing to take a dip outside under the moonlight to embrace the "magical" full moon experience.

Matt Newbury, who runs monthly full moon swims in Paignton said he would be taking to the water at Goodrington Sands as part of an informal event.

"It took me almost a year to swim in a full moon," he said.

"We started trying to do full moon swims about three of four years ago, but it was either raining or cloudy and we didn't see a moon for months, but we know it's up there."

"It's amazing because you get that whole moon river, that trail of light on the water," Mr Newbury added.

"It's just really magically being under the moonlight. It's a bit daring, it's a bit naughty."

Chagford Pool, near Dartmoor, said it had sold out its ticketed full moon swim and was looking to host more in future.

Sophia Herod said the Strawberry Moon was named after "Native American and European cultures as a way of signalling a time to harvest wild strawberries".

Full moons were given nicknames to help keep track of time and monitor the changing seasons.

The Strawberry Moon may appear to take on a reddish tinge, but it is nothing to do with its name.

The position of the moon so close to the horizon means the light it reflects towards Earth passes through the thicker, lower layer of atmosphere.

If you manage to catch the Strawberry Moon on camera, why not share your photographs with BBC Weather Watchers.

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