Stargazers are in for a real treat this week because the Strawberry moon, or June’s full Moon, is right around the corner.
The Strawberry Moon is also referred to as the Rose moon, Hot moon, Honey moon or Mead moon. The supermoon which appears around this time of the year gets its name from the strawberry picking season. This is because June is the month when wild strawberries are ready to be harvested. It is also called Honey Moon because it comes at the time when honey is ready to be harvested.
On the day of the appearance of the Strawberry Moon, Hindus in the northern and western states of India observe a festival called Vat Purnima. The day of Vat Purnima is based on the legend of Savitri and Satyavan and on this day, many Indian women keep fast for their partner’s longevity.
Lunar phases occur almost every month. It happens when the moon is located opposite to the sun while Earth is between them. During this time, the side of the moon which faces Earth brightens up thereby forming a complete circle.
June’s strawberry moon is also referred to as “Super Moon” because it is at perigee, a point in its orbit closest to Earth.
This year, the Strawberry Moon will appear in the skies on June 14 at 7:52 am EDT. However, the moon will appear to be complete one day before and after. This means the Moon will appear complete on June 13 as well as June 15.
The moon will reach its peak around 5:22 pm IST but will look equally beautiful one night before and after. People can observe the exquisite Strawberry Moon using binoculars.