CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – A Strawberry Full Moon occurred during the Summer Solstice on June 20, 2016 – a nearly once-in-a-lifetime event that hasn’t happened since 1967. A Full Moon during Summer Solstice won’t happen again until 2062.
The Strawberry Moon rose over the Atlantic Ocean on Florida’s east coast around 8:34 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, June 20, 2016.
Why is this Full Moon called a Strawberry Moon?
According to Native American folklore, a full moon in June is called a Strawberry Moon because the short season for harvesting strawberries comes during that summer month. 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 reddish-pink which is 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.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The Summer Solstice is the shortest night and longest day of the year on Earth’s northern hemisphere for locations like Melbourne, Florida, but the reverse in the southern hemisphere for locations like Melbourne, Australia. During the Summer Solstice, the Sun sits above the Tropic of Cancer, spreading more sunlight in the north and turning the tables on the south.
A Summer Solstice can occur on June 20, 21, or 22, depending on calendar events such as leap year and when the Solstice begins relative to Coordinated Universal Time.
Photo and video credit: Brevard Times
