The ‘Strawberry Moon’ will appear just after the summer solstice

(NewsNation) – Skywatchers can look forward to seeing June’s full moon just one day after the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year.

This month’s Full Moon will occur on June 21 at 9:08 PM ET. A full moon occurs when the moon is directly in front of the sun, allowing it to appear fully illuminated by Earth.

Why is it called “Strawberry Moon”?

Names for full moons come from Native American or early European traditions, although the practice and names have also been adopted by modern Neopagans, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The name “Strawberry Moon” comes from the Algonquian people and refers to the fact that it occurs during the year when wild strawberries ripen.

The Cherokee people call the June moon the Green Corn Moon, while the Tlingi call it the Birth Moon, and in Cree, it is known as the Egg-Laying Moon or the Rising Moon. The Choctaw call it the “Wind Moon,” and the Arapho call it the “Buffalo Bellows Moon.”

Early European names for the June full moon include “Rose Moon”, “Honey Moon” and “Mead Moon”. If you’re wondering, yes, this is where the term “honeymoon” comes from, as June was a traditional month for marriages in many countries. China also uses full moon names, calling June the “Lotus Moon”.

Full Moon in Capricorn

For those who dabble in astrology, this month’s full moon falls in the sign of Capricorn, a sign of ambition, hard work and discipline. This makes it a good time to reflect on how far you’ve come in your career – or where you want to be.

But the first of two Capricorn full moons also happens when ruling planet Saturn goes retrograde, which can make achieving those goals more challenging. This is also happening during the emotional and intuitive season of Cancer, mixing pragmatic ambition with less quantifiable feelings.

This makes it a good time to reflect on what has been accomplished so far and release any emotional baggage that is slowing your forward progress.

Sighting of the Strawberry Moon

This summer, the full moon in June will come just one day after the summer solstice, when those in the Northern Hemisphere will experience the most daylight of the year, something that only happens once every 18-20 years.

The Moon will appear near the constellation of the Teapot and may take on a slight reddish tint due to its proximity to the horizon.

A few days later, on June 29, the moon will line up with Mars, Jupiter and Saturn just before sunrise, with all four celestial bodies visible without a telescope.