What is a Strawberry Moon? How and where to watch June's supermoon
The month of June marks the sighting of Strawberry Moon, which is a full moon plus a supermoon. The June full moon is also known as the Hot Moon, Mead Moon, and Rose Moon, after the fruit in season in the southern hemisphere.
On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 11:52 pm UTC, fans of celestial events will be able to witness the 'Strawberry Super Moon' shining at its peak in gorgeous tangerine colors. That is the precise instant when the moon will be entirely illuminated by the Sun's rays. The moon will appear enormous and dazzling any day this week—and will be up for most of the night. With the exception of the twin total lunar eclipses in May and November, this 'Super Full Moon' is without a doubt the most significant lunar event of the year. Only on a full moon night can you watch the moon appear on the horizon around sunset. The moon will appear most lovely during moonrise and moonset, when it is nearing its full phase.
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The full moon in June comes near to the moon's perigee—the point in space where it is closest to the Earth during its monthly orbit—which will make the moon look approximately 7% bigger than usual but its increased brightness will be more evident until it has climbed high into the sky. It's the closest full moon of the year, at 222,238 miles/357,658 kilometers, making it the largest and brightest of the year—a true "supermoon!" It will result in an exceptionally high perigean spring tide, sometimes known as a "king tide," posing a hazard of flooding to coastal communities.
Here are details on how to spot a perfect Strawberry Moon:
How and where to watch Super Moon
The full moon always rises in the east at nightfall (opposite a sunset) and sets in the west the next morning (opposite a sunrise). Strawberry Moon - the northern hemisphere's final full moon of the spring season, will rise in the east just after sunset, shine brightly all night, and then set in the west shortly before sunrise. A full moonrise may not be clearly visible through naked eyes. For a spectacular close-up view, have a pair of binoculars ready.
For those who wish to watch it online, the 'Strawberry Moon' will be webcast by The Virtual Telescope Projecton on their youtube channel. The free live feed will begin at 8 pm BST (7 pm UTC). The moon will be tracked as it travels over the magnificent skyline of Rome.
Best Time to watch Strawberry Moon
Here are the ideal times to watch June's Strawberry Moon from a few significant cities, but make sure to double-check the actual moonrise and moonset hours for your area. The best time to observe the full 'Strawberry Moon' ascend into the twilight sky is Tuesday evening. Sunset in New York is at 8:28 pm EDT, and moonrise is at 9:16 pm EDT (the moment of full moon is at 6:53 am EDT). Sunset in Los Angeles is at 8:05 pm PDT, and moonrise is at 8:57 pm PDT (the moment of full moon is at 3:53 am PDT). Sunset in London is at 9:18 pm BST, and moonrise is at 10:02 pm BST (the moment of full moon is at 11:53 am BST).
Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others, have used the word 'Strawberry Moon' to indicate the maturing of "June-bearing" strawberries that are ready to be picked. This is also reflected in the Haida word Berries Ripen Moon. June is a period where flowers blossom and early fruit ripens.