Skywatchers are in for another treat today. The Strawberry Full Moon would appear after the sunset, would be seen for three days till early Saturday morning.
The Strawberry Moon neither looks like a strawberry nor is it pink in color. The reason behind the name is – Traditionally in North America and Europe, full moons have been named linked to local cultures and customs. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “The name (Strawberry Moon) has been used by Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others, to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered.” Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota are the indigenous American tribes.
The Strawberry Moon is often the last Full Moon of spring or the first moon of the summer season. It would be the first full moon after the June solstice.
Just a month back, the world witnessed the first Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021with a Blood Moon and a Super Moon, followed by a Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse.
Does the Full Moon qualify as a supermoon?
According to NASA, “The Full Moons in April and May were nearly tied as the closest Full Moons of the year. The Full Moon on May 26, was slightly closer to the Earth than the Full Moon on April 26 but only by a slim 0.04%.”
According to earthsky.com, “A Full Moon or New Moon has to come within 90% of its closest approach to Earth to be dubbed a supermoon. In other words, any Full Moon or New Moon that comes to within 224,791 miles or 361,766 km (or less) of our planet, as measured from the centers of the moon and Earth, can be called a supermoon.”
Would Indians be fortunate to witness Strawberry Moon?
The Strawberry Moon would be visible in India from June 25 at midnight, around 12:09 am. According to weather.com, the full moon would be visible for about three days.
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When and where would it occur?
The Strawberry Full Moon would occur on June 24 at 18:39 GMT. It would appear for more than a day in the night sky. Stargazers would be able to witness the moon during moonrise at 8:53 pm EDT in New York. This year, the Strawberry Full Moon would coincide with the summer solstice after 20 years.