Latest news with #moonrise
Forbes
3 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Why The ‘Strawberry Moon' Will Be Lowest Until 2043 — And How To Photograph It
Tuesday's full strawberry moon occurs during two-year period known as the 'major lunar standstill" ... More or "lunistice," when a once-in 18.6-year event will create the lowest-hanging full moon since 2006 and until 2043. The full moon is seen here rising behind Stonehenge in England. (Photo by) The full strawberry moon will put on a dramatic show at moonrise on Tuesday, June 10 — low, luminous, and colored orange as it climbs into the southeastern sky. Get to an observing location that looks southeast — preferably low to the horizon — and at the specific time of moonrise where you are (during dusk), you'll see the red-orange orb rise before your eyes. Seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon will rise far to the southeast, move across the sky close to the southern horizon, and set in the southwest close to dawn. It's happening because we're in the midst of a rare two-year period known as the 'major lunar standstill" or "lunistice," when a once-in 18.6-year event will create the lowest-hanging full moon since 2006 and until 2043. Earth's axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic, the path of the sun through the daytime sky, and, in effect, the plane of the solar system. That's what gives us seasons, and that's why planets are always found close to the ecliptic (hence the misused "planetary alignment" claims despite planets always being somewhat aligned with each other). The moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic twice each month, and when those crossings align with a new or full moon, eclipses can occur — hence the shared root in the words 'ecliptic' and 'eclipse.' While the sun's rise and set points vary throughout the year, changing by 47 degrees — and reaching the extreme points at the solstices — the moon's range is bigger, with that 5-degree tilt giving its rise and set points a 70-degree range near a major standstill, according to Griffith Observatory. Mount Coot-tha Lookout, Brisbane A major lunar standstill is a period when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and moonset are furthest apart. Unlike a solstice (Latin for "sun stand still"), which lasts for one day, a major lunar standstill lasts for two years. These events are most noticeable during a full moon. Essentially, the swiveling and shifting orbit of the moon — a consequence of the sun's gravitational pull — is tilted at its maximum angle relative to the ecliptic. Every 18.6 years, the tilts combine to cause the moon to rise and set as much as 28.5° north or south of due east and west, respectively. Most people won't notice the major lunar standstill, but if you regularly watch the full moon rise from a particular place, go there — you'll get a shock when the moon rises at an extreme position much farther from where you might imagine it will rise. Imaging a full moon using a smartphone isn't easy, but it is possible to capture something special. First, switch off your flash and turn on HDR mode (if available) to better capture both the moon and the landscape as the light fades during dusk. Don't zoom in because digital zoom only blurs the details. Instead, frame the moon within a landscape for more impact, which is especially effective during this month's unusually far-southeast moonrise. If you use a manual photography app, stick to an ISO of 100 for a clean shot and experiment with slower (but not too slow) shutter speeds. A tripod will help, especially when using slow shutter speeds. However, if you don't have one, you can balance your phone on a wall or ledge. The key is to image it when it's low on the horizon and glowing orange. You've got a short window to capture that color, even with this low-hanging full moon, which will turn bright white as it lifts above the horizon. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
5 days ago
- General
- Forbes
‘Strawberry Moon' June 2025: See The Lowest Full Moon Since 2006
The full strawberry moon — the final full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere — will turn full on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. However, it will be best seen at moonrise on Tuesday, June 10 as it appears in the east during dusk. It takes its name from the ripening of summer berries in North America during June. It's also the lowest-hanging full moon not only of the year, but since 2006 because of a once-in-18.6-years occurrence called the 'major lunar standstill.' The full Strawberry Moon sets behind the Statue of Liberty before sunrise on June 4, 2023, in New ... More York City. (Photo by) The strawberry moon will turn full at 3:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10 days before the solstice on Saturday, June 21, 2025. It will look full the night before and the night after it's officially 100%-lit by the sun, but the best time to watch it rise is at moonrise during dusk on Tuesday, June 10. EarthSky says June's full moon is the strawberry, flower and rose moon. Cultural and seasonal names for the full moon vary hugely across the world. A full moon always looks at its best not when it's high in the sky at night, but when it first appears above the eastern horizon during dusk. The sight is at its best when the moon rises shortly after sunset. That timing is good this month for North America, with the moon rising a few minutes after sunset. As well as being the latest at night to rise of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, June's strawberry moon is also always the lowest-hanging full moon of the year. This happens because the full moon is opposite the sun, by definition, so it mirrors the sun's position. For example, the full moon is at its lowest when the sun is at its highest. In practice, that means it never gets very high in the sky. To see the full strawberry moon at its best, find an elevated location, an open field or an east-facing coastline with a clear view of the eastern horizon. To find the best time to see it appear from where you are, consult a moonrise calculator. Here are some sample times : This year there's another reason why June's full moon is the lowest of the year — the moon's current major lunar standstill. This once-every-18.6 years period, which lasts for about a year — is caused by the tilts of the moon and Earth being at their maximum — meaning the moon rises and sets at the farthest points on its range on the horizon. In practice, the moon in June 2025 will rise farther to the southeast than at any time since 2006, stay low in the southern sky all night (about five degrees lower in the sky than the sun does on the winter solstice), and set as far to the southwest as it ever can. The strawberry moon is the sixth of 12 full moons in 2025. The solar year is 365.24 days, while our lunar year is around 354.37 days, so sometimes there are 13 full moons in one calendar (solar) year — as in 2023 and next in 2028. Of the 12 full moons in 2024, three will be 'supermoons' and two 'blood moon' total lunar eclipses (the first happened on March 13-14, and the next lunar eclipse is on Sept. 7-8). The next full moon is the buck moon, which will occur on Thursday, July 10. It will be the first full moon of the Northern Hemisphere's astronomical season of summer (and winter in the Southern Hemisphere), which begins on the date of the June solstice on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Full Moon May 2025: When To See The ‘Flower Moon' Rise Where You Are
The full flower moon — the second full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere — will light up the night sky on Monday, May 12, 2025. It will be best seen rising in the east as an orange orb just after sunset that night, but exactly when to see it varies depending on location. It takes its name from the abundance of blooming flowers during May. The full flower moon will light up the night sky on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Photo by Lorenzo Di ... More Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images The flower moon will turn full at 12:57 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 12, 2025. It will look full the night before and the night after it's officially 100%-lit by the sun, but the best time to watch it rise is at moonrise during dusk on May 12. According to EarthSky, May's full moon is known as the flower, planting and milk moon. However, cultural names for the full moon vary hugely across the world. A full moon always looks at its best not when it's high in the sky at night, but when it first appears above the eastern horizon during dusk. The sight is at its best when the moon rises shortly after sunset — and the timing is perfect this month for North America, with the moon rising about 30 minutes after sunset. To see the full flower moon at its best, find an elevated location, an open field or an east-facing coastline with a clear view of the eastern horizon. The naked eye is fine, but binoculars or a small telescope can look more closely at its craters and dark maria — ancient lava flows. To find the best time to see it appear from where you are, consult a moonrise calculator. Here are some sample times : New York: sunset at 8:03 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 8:31 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 12, 2025. Los Angeles: sunset at 7:45 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 8:15 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 12, 2025. London: sunset at 8:40 p.m. BST, moonrise at 9:07 p.m. BST on Monday, May 12, 2025. How To Photograph The 'flower Moon' With A Smartphone Taking a good photo of the full moon using just a smartphone is not easy, mainly because of the moon's small size in the sky and phones' lack of optical zoom. However, taking a memorable photo you'll cherish using the right techniques is possible. Expert advice includes knowing the exact time and location of the moonrise, using a tripod, turning off the flash, adjusting focus and exposure and shooting in RAW, if your phone supports it, for easier editing afterward. The flower moon is the fifth of 12 full moons in 2025. The solar year is 365.24 days, while our lunar year is around 354.37 days, so sometimes there are 13 full moons in one calendar (solar) year — as in 2023 and next in 2028. Of the 12 full moons in 2024, three will be 'supermoons' and two 'blood moon' total lunar eclipses (the first happened on March 13-14, and the next lunar eclipse is on Sept. 7-8). The next full moon is the strawberry moon, which will occur on Wednesday, June 11. It will be the last full moon of the Northern Hemisphere's astronomical season of spring (and fall in the Southern Hemisphere), which ends on the date of the June solstice — Saturday, June 21, 2025. Forbes See Two 'Blood Moons,' Three 'Supermoons' And The Biggest Full Moon Since 2019: The Moon In 2025 By Jamie Carter
