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We’re officially halfway through the year and things are looking up! In 2024, the sky is set to be aglow in the Southern Hemisphere with 12 glorious and glowy full moons, plus two extra shiny supermoons.
Here at Time Out Australia, we’re the experts on what’s happening on the ground, including everything to see and do in and around the city, and where to eat and drink. But, we’re also clued-in as to what’s happening upstairs in that dark, mystical sky of ours. If you slept through last year’s rare blue supermoon, and missed the solar eclipse like the rest of us in the Southern Hemisphere, then mark your celestial calendars with these magical full moon dates.
What does a full moon mean?
The full moon is an astronomical event wherein the full face of the moon is visible from Earth. This monthly event happens when the moon and sun are aligned on opposite sides of Earth, meaning that 100 per cent of the moon’s face is illuminated by the sun, making it appear extra big and luminescent in the sky.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is taking place on this Saturday, June 22 – peaking at 9.07am in Perth, 10.37am in Adelaide and Darwin, and 11.07am in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne (meaning it will likely be best seen during the night of Friday, 21 June – the winter solstice).
Here are the remaining full moons of 2024:
- June 22 – Strawberry Moon
- July 21 – Buck Moon
- August 20 – Sturgeon Moon
- September 18 – Harvest Moon
- October 17 – Hunter’s Moon
- November 16 – Beaver Moon
- December 15 – Cold Moon
You can check the exact moonrise and moonset for your specific location here.
Why do all of the full moons have different names?
Each of the 12 full moons has its own special name, which was created by Native American tribes to keep track of the seasons. These poetic names were based on the behaviour of the plants, animals or weather patterns during that particular month.
What does the Strawberry Moon mean?
This month's full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon – named for its timing in the Northern Hemisphere which coincides with the ripening of early summer fruits (including stawbs). More than simply representing what's in season at the markets, the Strawberry Moon is thought to have spiritual significance – understood to represent pleasure, prosperity and the culmination of a six month cycle. The strawberry is also thought to represent sweetness, with the June moon also sometimes known as the Rose Moon or the Honey Moon – reflecting nature's sweetest bounty. What does that mean for you? This moon should highlight the sweeter side of life – it's sounding good to us.
How to see the full moon in Australia?
You won’t need a telescope to take in the full grandeur of the full moon. So long as there are clear skies, you should easily be able to see it with the naked eye by simply looking up. If you want to see it in more detail, you can also use a telescope or binoculars.
When it comes to fully appreciating the full moon, the darker the area you're in, the better.
What is a supermoon and when is the next supermoon in Australia?
A full moon gets upgraded to supermoon status when it’s at the closest point to Earth during its orbit. EarthSky predicts that there will be two supermoons in 2024 including on:
- September 18 – Harvest Moon
- October 17 – Hunter’s Moon
If you're hoping to capture these moon memories forever, then you'll want to check out these top tips from professional photographer Sean Scott. Just make sure to take all the magic in IRL too.
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