Skywatchers, get ready for a delightful sight: a full strawberry moon is about to rise!
June’s Strawberry Moon marks the last full month of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, appearing as the lowest full moon of the year from locations north of the equator and one of the most distant from the sun.
The moon will reach its fullness at 3:45am on Wednesday (June 11). Since this occurs early in the day, the ideal viewing opportunity will be on the evening of Tuesday (June 10) as it rises at dusk. Look towards the top right of the sky to spot Antares, a brilliant star located 550 light years away in the Scorpio constellation.
The June full moon is consistently one of the lowest of the year as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. This fact is attributed to its position opposite the sun, which affects the visibility of stars in our sky. The summer solstice will occur on the night of June 20th (or GMT June 21st). When the sun’s placement is particularly high in the sky, the resulting full moon appears lower, rising in the southeastern sky, traveling across the southern horizon, and setting in the southwest at dawn.
The Strawberry Moon is among the full moons that are farthest from the sun, a result of Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit. This creates a point where Earth is closest to the sun and another where it is farthest. This year’s farthest point, called Aphelion, occurs on July 3rd. With the full moon positioned on the opposite side of the sun, it represents the most distant point from the sun all year, approximately 94,600 miles (152,200 kilometers) away.
The name Strawberry Moon originates from the ripe wild strawberries available in various regions of the Northern Hemisphere during this month. For more information, visit timeanddate.com. Other Native American names for this full moon include the Ripe Moon of Berry, Green Corn Moon, Hot Moon, and Blooming Moon. In English, it is also referred to as the Flower Moon, Planting Moon, and Mead Moon, with Celtic designations such as Horse Moon, Diane Moon, and Rose Moon.
Source: www.livescience.com