Shea Simmons
As always, astronomy fans have another full moon to look forward to in June, and this month, it’s a Strawberry.
While the most recent full moons offered quite the spectacle (April’s was a supermoon and May’s casually coincided with a lunar eclipse), June’s Strawberry Moon will be a subtler affair, but one still worth seeing.
The event will occur on June 24 and reach its brightest point around 2:40 a.m. EDT, but, weather permitting, you’ll be able to get a good view of this beauty well before then.
Like all of the monthly moons, the special name for June’s derives from Native American traditions, and it’s not hard to guess where the Strawberry moniker comes from. Warmer weather is when fruit is in bloom, hence, this moon’s other titles, including the Berries Ripen and Blooming Moon.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, in European traditions, the term “honeymoon” might have originated from the June moon. This was because June was typically the month for marriages in Europe, and the celestial body often takes on a golden hue.
If you happened to miss out on April and May’s lunar events, be sure to mark your calendar for the Strawberry Moon. In the meantime, amateur astronomers might want to check out the Smithsonian’s Mission to Mars app.
[Via Better Homes & Gardens]
