Look up! On Friday, June 5, stargazers will get a glimpse of the Strawberry Moon.
According to NASA, tonight's full moon comes with a surprise: the "Strawberry Moon" penumbral lunar eclipse. This special occurrence marks the final full moon of spring and the beginning of a new "eclipse season"—a 35-day period in which two-to-three eclipses will occur.
Before you get too excited, however, you should know that a Strawberry Moon doesn't actually look like a strawberry. This particular moon got its name from the Algonquin tribes; according to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the sight of this full moon meant it was time to start gathering strawberries. Even so, the Strawberry Moon has had a variety of nicknames, depending on who you ask. It's been called the Mead Moon, the Honey Moon, the Rose Moon, the Flower Moon, the Hot Moon, and the Planting Moon.
Nak, MARK YOUR CALENDAR ✍️
— Papa (@NakPapaMoto_) June 5, 2020
Not to be missed this June 2020:
June 5 - Strawberry Moon and a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
June 8 - Conjunction of Moon, Jupiter and Saturn
June 20 - Summer Solstice (Longest day of the Year)
June 21 - Annular Solar Eclipse (Ring of Fire) pic.twitter.com/uHAsIa4hwP
Can I see the Strawberry Moon tonight?
Stargazers in the U.S. should see the full moon around 8:30 p.m. local time on June 5, according to timeanddate.com. The lunar eclipse is set to start at 1:47 p.m. and end at 5:05 p.m. EDT, so it may not be visible from North America. Observers in eastern Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia and Australia, however, will have the best view. The Strawberry Moon penumbral lunar eclipse is set to appear at moonrise for those living on the eastern coast of South America, western Africa, and Europe. For these viewers, the eclipse begins at 1:45 p.m. EDT and ends at 5:04 p.m. EDT.
If you're unable to see the full moon tonight, don't be discouraged. The moon will appear full for three days, from early Thursday morning into early Sunday morning, NASA reports.