June’s Strawberry Moon will grace the night sky in this month to mark summer solstice
Stargazers are in for a sweet treat as the “Strawberry Moon” is set to rise this week to officially mark the beginning of summer shortly after the arrival of summer solstice.
According to Space, the strawberry moon’s name comes from “the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in northeastern North America,” according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa).
The moon, despite its name, will look like an ordinary full moon.
However, according to Nasa, this month’s full moon may give off a reddish tint when it starts rising in northern regions of Europe.
This is more likely to happen when the moon appears lower in the sky, as the sun’s rays of light bounce off the Earth.
When and where will Strawberry Moon rise?
The Strawberry Moon is set to reach its fullest phase at 9:07pm Eastern time on Friday, June 21, which is also the longest day of the year.
The moon will be the lowest full moon in years, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
In New York City, the 97% illuminated will rise at about 7:45pm on Thursday, reaching 100% fullness as it rises at about 8:50pm on Friday.
It will also be 100% full on Saturday rising at 9:45pm.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
