One of the best things about the past few months (and as I’m sure you know, there haven’t been many) has been getting the chance to start connecting with our environment more. Whether you’ve taken up bird watching or suddenly started appreciating the sun or the night stars, I think many of us are feeling a little more connected to the world around us. Well, Mother Nature is ready to give us another show in the form of a full ‘Strawberry Moon’ tonight. You ready?
- What is a ‘Strawberry Moon’? Despite the name, a Strawberry Moon doesn’t necessarily always appear red or pink. In fact, it’s “large and golden-hued,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The name originates from North America’s Algonquin tribes, who used the full moon that came in the month of June as a signal that the strawberry crops were ready to pick. Pretty cool, eh?
- This one is special, though. You won’t just get a Strawberry Moon tonight, but depending on where you are in the world, you’ll also get a penumbral lunar eclipse! While the moon will become completely full while there’s still daylight in North America and the moon is below the horizon, people in South America, Europe, Russia, Asia, and Australia will get a full glimpse of its glory.
- Wait, so what’s a penumbral eclipse? It’s basically the subtlest form of an eclipse that happens when the sun, moon, and Earth are all aligned and only a partial shadow is cast over the moon. Nevertheless, it’s still a pretty cool phenomenon to witness.
- The Strawberry Moon will be best visible in the southern hemisphere. Sadly, even those in Europe and Asia will have difficulty getting the full impact of this moon unless they’re located below the equator, and even then, rain clouds or other clouds could dampen the view. Still, it’s worth looking up and trying to catch a glimpse!
