This month’s full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will be the highest full moon over Australia since 2006! It’ll be worth looking skyward for, especially as it heralds further cool astronomical phenomena to come later this year, from meteor showers to eclipses. Read on to find out more about it and how to spot it.
Why “Strawberry Moon”?
The full moon in June is always known by this name, not because of its colour, unfortunately, but rather due to Native American tribes that recognised this moon as signalling the start of strawberry harvest season in some parts of North America. Other native names include Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Hot Moon.
This particular Strawberry Moon is special due to what experts call a major lunar standstill. Happening every 18.6 years, this phenomenon means the moon rises and sets at the northernmost and southernmost points. In layman’s terms, this means in the Southern Hemisphere, the moon will be the highest it’s been in almost twenty years, closest to the sky’s zenith.
When to see the Strawberry Moon
The Strawberry Moon will light up the skies in Australia the night of June 11, with its peak illumination set to occur just as the sky turns dark, but any time during that night will allow you to bask in its beams, no equipment needed. You can check moonrise and moonset times for Brisbane here.
Where to see the Strawberry Moon?
You should be able to see the full moon, even as it sits at the furthest point from the horizon, almost anywhere, but it might be a bit trickier than usual if it’s cloudy.
And, of course, if you’re looking for the best viewing experience, we recommend heading out to a dark, clear location like the Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout — although the light pollution coming from the city might make it a bit difficult — or, if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive, places like Wild Horse Mountain and Lake Moogerah offer expansive views of the night sky.
When are the next supermoons?
The Strawberry Moon will have to tide you over until this year’s supermoons, which will rise on the following dates:
- October 7 — Hunter’s Moon
- November 5 — Beaver Moon
- December 4 — Cold Moon