The Strawberry Moon, which is the Full Moon of this summer, will be fullest by June 21.
This is just a day after the yearly summer solstice. It will also look full and bright on June 20 and June 22.
2024 Strawberry Moon
The closeness of the Full Moon to the solstice date, or the beginning of astronomical summer, would result in a clear visual effect. Because a Full Moon sits at Earth's opposite, it would end up mirroring the Sun's position in the sky.
This June, especially as it nears the solstice, the Sun would be at its highest point in the year in the Northern Hemisphere. On June 20, its position during midday of the solstice would be higher than it could ever get.
Because of this, the Strawberry Moon the next day would be considered the lowest of the year.
It would also be the farthest Full Moon from the Sun this year. This is due to how the slightly elliptical orbit of Earth around the Sun would take it farthest away by June 5. This point would be the annual aphelion of Earth's orbit.
Hence, to that date, the closest Full Moon would be the annual aphelion of the Moon.
For those who are from North America, the best time for watching the Full Moon would be on Friday, when it would rise in the east extremely close to sunset.
Individuals can also search the time for moonset and moonrise in their specific locations. They can also find an area with a low eastern horizon view.
The Strawberry Moon got its name after wild strawberries that ripen this month.
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Full Moon
A Full Moon is one of the eight phases that the Moon experiences in each cycle. For this specific phase, the whole illuminated and round face of the Moon becomes visible from the Earth.
The Full Moon is usually considered the most striking lunar phase due to how it involves the most sunlight reflecting off the Moon toward the planet.
Around and during a night when there is a Full Moon, other cosmic objects, such as planets and stars, could be harder to observe due to the glare of the Moon. It is also hard to observe the Moon's surface when it is full due to how light tends to wash out the features of its topography.
The Moon has a full appearance when it reaches its orbit's halfway orbit. This is when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon and when the Moon is directly opposite toward the Sun. Because of its position opposite toward the Sun, it would rise during sunset and set during sunrise.
A lunar phase cycle goes on for nearly a month, spanning 29.5 days. This period is called the synodic month.
Because of this, a Full Moon typically occurs once every calendar month. However, if a full Moon happens during the first two days of a month, it is possible for a second full Moon to happen within the same month.
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