It’s time for another notable celestial event. Be sure to cast your gaze toward the sky tonight for 2018’s Strawberry Moon. And for the keen-eyed, there’s a heavenly bonus with a prominent appearance from Saturn.
So you’re not disappointed or confused, first things first: The moon isn’t going to actually look like a big round strawberry. That’s because in North America, the name comes from Algonquin tribes of Native Americans. This full moon was their sign to harvest wild strawberries, says the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
This has other names in other parts of the world. In Europe, you may hear it called the Honey Moon, Mead Moon or the Full Rose Moon. In the Southern Hemisphere, it can go by Oak Moon, Cold Moon or Long Night Moon, according to EarthSky.org.
What’s the best time to see it?
In the United States, the peak of the full moon happens depending on your time zone. In the Eastern Time Zone, that will happen at 12:53 a.m. Thursday, June 28. Back on the West Coast, peak time will be 9:53 p.m. PT Wednesday, June 27.
In the Eastern Time Zone of the United States, that will happen at 4:30 a.m. Monday, June 17. On the West Coast with Pacific Time, the peak will be 1:30 a.m. On the other side of the globe, New Delhi, India, will see peak time of 2 p.m.
See the upper right side of the timeanddate.com page to get the time for your location.
But remember, peak time doesn’t mean your only viewing time. As The Old Farmer’s Almanac points out, the moon will appear full to viewers on Father’s Day (Sunday, June 16) shortly after sunset.
“My favorite time to watch the full moon is as it is rising over the eastern horizon. When the moon is low on the horizon, it allows you to capture the view with objects in the foreground, making the moon appear bigger,” Jones said.
“Say you are in the city, and you’re watching between a couple of buildings or over the skyline, it will make it feel that much bigger and give it more impact.” He adds that if you’re around the ocean, a lake or mountains, the perspective could be very pleasing.
Saturn
Now, about that heavenly bonus. You may notice a bright object near the moon. That will be not a star, but Saturn.
The ringed planet will be in what’s called “opposition,” meaning it will be opposite the sun in Earth’s sky. You won’t be able to see those fabled rings unless you have a telescope, but just pay attention and with the naked eye, you’ll see the planet close to the Strawberry Moon.
What’s next?
For those who like to follow earthly and celestial events, we’ve got the summer solstice coming up in just a few days – on Friday, June 21.
And the next full moon after the Strawberry is the Full Buck Moon on July 16.