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Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Record
How to catch rare Strawberry Moon which won't be seen again until 2043
June's full moon will grace the sky next week and break several night sky records. Scotland's amateur stargazers have seen a range of cosmic events already this year, including several sightings of the Northern Lights. But this week will see a super-rare Strawberry Moon light up the night sky, in a phenomenon that won't be seen again until 2043. While the full moon occurs roughly every month, when the moon has repeated another lunar cycle, there's something particularly special about June's full moon this year. So what is the Strawberry Moon, and why is it so exciting this year? The Strawberry Moon will grace our skies this week, on June 11. Here's all the information you need to make the most of this rare celestial event. What is the Strawberry Moon? The June full moon is referred to as the Strawberry Moon, due to its association with summer and therefore strawberry season. Each of the monthly full Moons has a nickname that relates to what's going on in nature during that particular month, according to BBC Sky at Night. The full Moon in February is usually known as the Snow Moon, while the July full Moon is known as the Buck Moon- as it's the period where bucks (male deer) grow their antlers. The term 'Strawberry Moon' is said to have originated from Native American tribes, according to the BBC, in particular the Algonquin tribe. This full moon marked the beginning of strawberry season in northeastern parts of North America. But despite its name, it won't appear strawberry bright red or pink, so don't be disappointed! However, the June full moon sits particularly low in the sky, and its closeness to the horizon can sometimes give it a reddish glow. Why is the Strawberry Moon special this year? While the Strawberry Moon is usually the lowest full moon of the year, it hasn't appeared so low in the sky since 2006, and won't be again until 2043. This is because of an event that occurs once every 18.6 years, known as the 'major lunar standstill'. Across the moon's nearly 20-year-long cycle, it follows a tilted orbit around Earth. Major and minor lunar standstills occur when the moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon, appearing unusually low or high in the sky. During the Strawberry Moon, Earth will be approaching its farthest distance from the Sun in its orbit. The moon will also be as far from the Sun as it can possibly be in its orbit around Earth, in one of the furthest full moons from the sun of the year. While the moon is officially full on June Wednesday, June 11, it will be visible close to Antares, meaning Mars' rival, which is the brightest star in the Scorpio constellation in the nights leading up to the full moon. On Monday, June 9, the moon will be visible to the right of the ultra-bright star, at around 10pm, according to BBC Sky at Night. On 10 June, the moon will appear to the left of Antares, but remember, it'll be low in the sky, so to see it will require a clear horizon. By 11 June, the moon will be in the constellation Sagittarius, even further left of Mars' rival. When can you see the Strawberry Moon? To catch this low-down moon, you'll need a low, southern horizon, unobstructed by trees or buildings. But when will you have the best chance of catching it? The Strawberry Moon will rise on June 11 at 10.46pm BST, and reach its full phase at 8.44am BST. With sunrise at around 4.45am on June 11, it will already be light when it reaches its full lunar phase. The best time to see the Strawberry Moon will be at dusk on Tuesday (June 10), and the Moon will appear full through both Tuesday and Wednesday night. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Moon, Venus, and Saturn Will Form a 'Smiley Face' Alignment This Week—Here's How to See It
On Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will align to look like a smiley face. The rare alignment will be the most visible a few hours before multiple northern lights sightings to a double meteor shower, it's safe to say that April has already been an incredible month for stargazers. The excitement continues this week when the moon and three planets gather in the sky. According to NASA, on Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will gather low in the east as dawn arrives. Mercury is also visible below the grouping for stargazers with a clear view to the horizon. This celestial event has been making headlines recently because the alignment of the two planets and the moon is expected to look like a smiley face. The crescent moon forms the mouth, and Venus and Saturn make the eyes. However, spotting the "smiley face" depends largely on timing. According to BBC Sky at Night, this is because Saturn, which is very faint, is the last of the three to rise in the morning and will sit below Venus and the moon in the sky. The planet's dimness, its low position, and the sun's glare mean it will be difficult to see. Even if you're not able to see Saturn in the morning sky this week, Venus is guaranteed to be a sight to behold. Per NASA, Venus has made the switch from an evening object to a morning one. All April, Venus has been rising low in the east before dawn, appearing a little higher each morning throughout the month. On Thursday, April 24, Venus will appear the brightest it has all year from our perspective on Earth, shining at a -4.4 magnitude. To see it, look up at the eastern sky a couple of hours before sunrise, where it will gleam like a bright star. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
