This weekend, the last full moon of spring, also known as the Strawberry Moon, will grace the night sky. Visible just after sunset in the southeast direction, the moon will reach peak illumination at 11:42 p.m. ET on Saturday and appear full for three days. To find your local peak time, consult The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s full moon calculator and check the local forecast.
The Strawberry Moon derives its name not from its appearance or color but from Native American tribes who used it to mark the ripening of June-bearing strawberries. As flowers bloom and early fruit ripens, June is a time of great abundance for many.
This year, NASA reports that some moon gazers will enjoy an additional treat. Observers in Argentina and the Atlantic Daylight Time zones eastward across the rest of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific will see Antares, the most luminous star in the Scorpius constellation, a few degrees right of the moon.
At dusk on Saturday, Venus and Mars will also be on display. Venus will set in the west and appear as a very bright star near the horizon, while Mars can be seen just next to Venus, appearing as a dim reddish star to the top left.
June Full Moon and Traditions
Different regions have given the June moon various names based on their seasonal or cultural customs. Europeans have referred to it as the Honey Moon, as June was traditionally the month of marriage and was named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno.
In Hinduism, the three days when the moon appears full mark Vat Purnima, a time when women demonstrate their love for their husbands by tying a ceremonial thread around a banyan tree.
The Strawberry Moon is not the last celestial event to watch for this year. Here are the full moons, eclipses, and meteor showers to look forward to in 2023:
Full Moons and Supermoons
2023 will see 13 full moons, with two supermoons in August. Supermoons, which appear larger and brighter due to their closer proximity to Earth, will also occur on July 3 and September 29. The remaining full moons in 2023, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, are:
– July 3: Buck Moon
– August 1: Sturgeon Moon
– August 30: Blue Moon
– September 29: Harvest Moon
– October 28: Hunter’s Moon
– November 27: Beaver Moon
– December 26: Cold Moon
Lunar and Solar Eclipses
On October 14, an annular solar eclipse will be visible for people across North, Central, and South America. This occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth at or near its farthest point from Earth, creating a glowing ring around the moon. Remember to wear eclipse glasses to avoid eye damage from sunlight.
A partial lunar eclipse will be viewable on October 28 for people in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America, and much of South America. In this event, the sun, Earth, and moon don’t completely align, so only part of the moon passes into shadow.
Meteor Showers
Nine more meteor showers will peak this year, most visible from late evening until dawn in areas without light pollution. Catch these events on their peak dates:
– Southern Delta Aquariids: July 30-31
– Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31
– Perseids: August 12-13
– Orionids: October 20-21
– Southern Taurids: November 4-5
– Northern Taurids: November 11-12
– Leonids: November 17-18
– Geminids: December 13-14
– Ursids: December 21-22
