According to Native American folklore, this full Moon is called a Strawberry Moon because the short season for harvesting strawberries comes during the month of June. Other names for the first full Moon is June are Rose Moon and Flower Moon.
Are Strawberry Moons red or pink in color?
Sometimes. But Strawberry Moons are not necessarily red or pink in color just because they occur in June.
Like any full Moon, the Moon can appear pink, like the one in this video taken two months ago, which can be caused by atmospheric conditions on Earth or a partial lunar eclipse. Strawberry Moons can also appear brown-red in color during a total lunar eclipse.
According to NASA, the full moon on June 30, 1996 was barely a “Blue Moon” because it occurred as the second Full Moon within the month. In time zones East of Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast, however, this was the first Full Moon of July.
What’s so special about this 2013 Strawberry Super Moon?
Tonight’s Super Moon will be the closest Super Moon of 2013. This Strawberry Super Moon will appear 13% larger and 30% brighter than normal Full Moons.
According to NASA, a Super Moon occurs because the Moon is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth. When the Moon is closest, it is at its orbital perigee, which is why a Super Moon is also known as a Perigee Moon.
When does the Strawberry Super Moon start?
The June 2013 Super Moon begins with a moonrise over the Atlantic Ocean on Florida’s east coast around 7:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, June 22, 2013 (plus or minus a few minutes depending on your exact location.)
The Moon will be at its fullest (98.8% full) the following morning at 7:33 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, June 23, 2013. However, the Moon will set an hour before at 6:36 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
When is the best time to watch the Super Moon?
As the video below explains, low hanging moons near the horizon appear larger to humans. So the Super Moon will appear biggest to the naked eye on the U.S east coast:
During and just after the moonrise at 7:41 p.m. on June 22.
Just before and during the moonset at 7:33 a.m. on June 23.
During and just after the moonrise at 8:41 p.m. on June 23.
If you live in a different time zones, the above times would be the nearly same in your local time if you are on Daylight Savings Times plus or minus a few minutes. For example, the moon will rise on June 22 in:
Houston, Texas at 7:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Denver Colorado at 7:49 PM Mountain Daylight Time
Los Angeles, California at 7:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Where is the best place to watch the Super Moon?
The Super Moon will be visible around the world. The best place to watch is wherever the viewer has a good view of the horizon, lack of artificial lighting, and no local cloud cover.
Image and Video Credit: NASA
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2013 Phases of the Moon NASA Animation – VIDEO
NASA Release Evolution and Tour of the Moon – VIDEO
“Blue Moon”
“Strawberry Moon” – VIDEO
“Pink Moon” – VIDEO
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