Tonight marks the appearance of June’s full moon, also known as the “Strawberry Moon,” named after the season in which Native American Algonquian tribes in the northeastern US, the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples gather “June-bearing” strawberries.
Despite its name, however, June’s full moon does not get its title from its color. Other cultures refer to June’s full moon by a variety of names indicative of the time of year; for instance, the Anishibaabe people refer to the June moon as the “Blooming Moon,” the Cherokee as the “Green Corn Moon,” and the Western Abenaki as the “Hoer Moon,” a reference to tending young crops. Other moon names include the Birth Moon, Egg Laying Moon, Honey Moon, Mead Moon, and Hatching Moon.
While tonight’s full moon is a sight to see, anticipation is growing for what will come next month: the first in a string of four consecutive supermoons that will light up the night sky. Supermoons are full moons that appear larger and brighter than average full moons because they are closer to Earth.
The four supermoons will be visible on July 3, Aug. 1, Aug. 30, and Sept. 29. According to NASA, a supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time the Moon is full. There are usually three to four supermoons each year.
If you’re interested in celebrating this astronomical event, there are several apps that can help you find out when and where the moon will appear in all its glory.
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Credit: al.com
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