“Strawberry Moon” is happening this weekend. Here’s what you need to know

The phrase “strawberry moon” may have caught your eye and popped up on social media around the world in recent weeks, but there’s less to it than meets the eye.

This happens every year, and simply put, the full moon of June is not a rare phenomenon.

However, this month’s full moon coincides with the winter solstice, which happens once every two decades, meaning the moon’s size and location will change.

The name has naturally led many to expect a red or pink moon to light up their sky or something resembling the actual shape of a strawberry, but it is not.

Why is it called strawberry month?

The name is Native American in origin and was assigned by farmers who observed the occurrence of a full moon in June – summer in the Northern Hemisphere – as the optimal time of year to harvest the fruit.

“In the 1930s the Maine Farmer’s Almanac began publishing Indian names for full months, and these names are now widely known and used,” NASA says.

“According to this almanac, as a full moon in June, it is strawberry month, a name that comes from the relatively short strawberry harvest season in the northeastern United States.”

The full moon of June around the world varies in name based on the norms, traditions and seasonal patterns of each region.

Fun fact: June was called the honey month in Europe before the 16th century because honey was ready for harvest later in the month.

This later inspired the term “honeymoon”, as most weddings at the time took place in April, and the first month of marriage was referred to as the “sweetest” time for the newlyweds.

When can I see the strawberry moon?

In Australia, the Strawberry Moon will coincide somewhat with the winter solstice on Friday, June 21, known colloquially as the “shortest day of the year.”

It is the day that receives the fewest hours of daylight of the year because the southern hemisphere is farthest from the sun.

Conversely, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year, or the summer solstice, with the maximum number of daylight hours.

According to Time and Date, the full moon will occur on Saturday, June 22 at 10:37 AM. This is in the morning, but with a clear sky it should still be visible.

At night, the moon will still appear almost perfectly round, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights are each expected to be about 97-99 percent full.

Check here to see when it’s peaking in your area.

What is the best way to see the strawberry moon?

You can see the strawberry moon just like any other moon – by looking at the sky with the naked eye.

A full moon occurs once per calendar month and requires no additional magnifying equipment to view.

But the moonlight will be much brighter than a normal moon due to the Sun’s relative position to it, which amplifies the brightness when sunlight hits the surface directly.

(Think of the event as a straight line with the Earth between the Sun and the Moon).

The best place and time to watch the moon

Sunrise – between 6:30 am and 7:30 am – is the best time to watch the moon set over the water, and sunset is ideal for seeing the moon rise – from 5 to 6 pm.

You don’t need to go anywhere to watch it, but if you want to see it in its full glory, the east-facing areas are the way to go.

Anyone living along the East Coast can get a great view of the strawberry moon rising or setting over the water, with beaches or hills overlooking the sea often looming over it. .

But even if you’re in a city or somewhere far away, there’s no way you can really miss it—as long as the clouds move and the sky stays clear.

If you photograph the Strawberry Moon, we want to hear from you. Send us your images through the form below and we’ll try to include it as part of our coverage.

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