So, you might’ve heard of a Blood Moon – the celestial phenomenon also known as a lunar eclipse that we witnessed back in March – but what about a ‘strawberry moon’?
The phenomenon occurs every 18.6 years, the last time being in 2006, and the next time set to be in 2043. So, here’s a bit more information about what a ‘strawberry moon’ really means, and how you can catch a glimpse of it.
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What is a ‘strawberry moon’ and why is it rare?
The name implies that our natural satellite takes on a pinkish colour, but that’s actually not the case.
Technically, this is just the name given to the full moon in June, but its name has quite a charming story behind it. It’s known as the strawberry moon because, according to Almanac, June’s full moon was a signal that it was time to harvest wild strawberries in Native American tradition.
While the moon doesn’t appear pink, it could well look reddish or orange this year. That’s because of a rare celestial event known as the ‘major lunar standstill’, which only happens every 20 years or so.
The moon will appear abnormally low in the sky because it has reached the most extreme points in its orbit, rising and setting in its most northern and southern points, meaning the June full moon follows an especially low arc across the sky.
Because it will be perched so close to the horizon, the light it reflects will pass through a thicker, lower layer of the earth’s atmosphere, scattering blue light and letting more orange and red hues through.
When and how to glimpse the strawberry moon
In the US, the moon should reach peak illumination at 3.44am ET on June 11, and will appear full as it rises tonight, the evening of June 10. Over in the UK, the moon will appear low in the southern sky late on Tuesday night, June 10, according to the Economic Times.
In both locations, your best bet to catch a proper glimpse of the moon is to look towards the horizon in the east as it rises after sunset. If you can, make sure you’re away from too much light, and keep your fingers crossed for clear skies.
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