When is the Strawberry Moon and how to see it? | News Tech

The summer full moon is here, so don’t miss out on seeing the rare Strawberry Moon.

Although there are sometimes more than 12 full moons in one year, there are 12 popular full moon names corresponding to each monthly full moon.

It’ll be at its brightest on Wednesday evening – but how can you see it in all its glory?

And why is it known as a Strawberry Moon? Here’s what you need to know about the phenomenon.

What is a Strawberry Moon? Does it have any spiritual meaning?

First things first – it doesn’t mean that the full moon is pink – even if it can sometimes appear that way in the sky. No, the Moon does not become a giant celestial strawberry either.

Many cultures have named the full moons across the lunar calendar throughout history, such as the ‘Full Wolf Moon’ or the ‘Full Flower Moon’.

The Strawberry Moon, like many of these lunar monikers, comes from Native American culture.

In North America, strawberry harvesting traditionally takes place in June, with the indigenous Haida people calling it the Berries Ripen Moon.

Many spiritualists and local cultures associate the Strawberry Moon with energy and renewal, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, with the orange and pink-ish Moon also going by:

• The Rose Moon in European cultures, as it’s when the flower blooms on the continent.
• The Hot Moon as it marks the beginning of the warm summer season.
• The Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs is what the indigenous Tlingit peoples call it, as it ushers in plant growth.
• The Moon When the Ducks Come Back, named by the Lakota people, as ducks return when the pale-coloured Moon shines above.

The best time to see the Strawberry Moon in the UK

If you want to see the rare Strawberry Moon, you’ll need to be out and about at the optimal time and location on Wednesday.

The sixth Moon of the year will become visible from around 10.46pm today, June 11, as the Moon rises, although it was already visible last night.

Any spot that is away from the light pollution of cities or towns will be good for stargazing and observing the phenomenon.

As the Strawberry Moon hangs lower than usual, it is likely to be visible even in London if the night is clear.

The Met Office forecast shows that the sky above London should be clear of clouds from about 8pm tonight.

Will the Moon appear red?

The June full moon is the closest to midsummer and also the furthest away from the Sun.

But rather than being red, it will appear orange or slightly rusty red when it’s close to the horizon, according to the BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

So, to the naked eye, the special moon might not appear any more red than usual, as the nickname comes from its cultural background.

The next full moon after the summer equinox will be the Buck Moon in July.

This article was first published on June 3, 2023.

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