Tonight the Strawberry Moon will rise over Belarus. Why is it called that?
Tonight over Europe, including Belarus, the so-called "Strawberry Moon" — the June full moon — will rise. But in reality, this name is not related to color: the Moon will be neither pink nor red, writes Euronews.
Illustrative image
The mystery of the name's origin is explained by the fact that it was traditionally used by the indigenous peoples of North America, as the June full moon coincided with the wild strawberry harvesting season. Later, the term became widely used in popular astronomical culture.
The June full moon also has other folk names: Honey Moon, Rose Moon, Hot Moon. In different cultures, the full moon was named according to seasonal signs — depending on the harvest, weather, agricultural work, or natural phenomena.
This year the Moon will look rather golden, especially when it just rises above the horizon. This happens because its light passes through denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere, similar to a sunset.
Additionally, this full moon coincides with the so-called micro-moon — a moment when the Moon is slightly further from Earth than usual. Therefore, it will appear slightly smaller and less bright.
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the Moon will also track quite low in the sky — this is due to its position relative to the Sun after the summer solstice. It will be visible in the evening after sunset.
Overall, this is a normal summer full moon, but with a beautiful name and interesting astronomical features that make it especially spectacular to observe.
No special equipment is needed for observation in Belarus: the Strawberry Moon can be seen with the naked eye if the sky is clear. It is best to choose a place with an open view of the eastern or southeastern horizon — outside the city, near water, on a hill, or where there are no obstructions like houses and trees.
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