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A Strawberry Moon Eclipse Is Happening This Weekend

Photo credit: Kiyomi Yoshimatsu / 500px - Getty Images
Photo credit: Kiyomi Yoshimatsu / 500px - Getty Images

From House Beautiful

After sunset this Friday, this month’s full moon will rise above the horizon. Known as the full Strawberry Moon, it’ll pass through the outer part of the Earth’s shadow (the penumbra). When this happens, a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur, so part of the moon will appear darker—but it’ll be so faint, that you probably won’t notice it at all. In fact, if you live in North America, the eclipse won’t even be visible.

The Strawberry Moon, the first full moon of the summer, will reach peak illumination on Friday, June 5 at 3:12 p.m. EDT, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. But it won’t be visible until later that night. When it does light up the night sky, the best direction to look is towards the southeast. It’ll appear full for about three days, starting Thursday morning, per NASA. While having a minimal effect on the appearance of the moon to the naked eye, the penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible in “parts of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America,” the Farmer’s Almanac reports.

Unfortunately for those hoping to spot a rosy moonrise, much like April’s Super Pink Moon, the Strawberry Moon’s name has nothing to do with its color—so it won’t be bright red. As with other full moons, its name originates from Native Americans who used the moon to track seasons. It’s called the Strawberry Moon because the Algonquin tribes in eastern North America viewed June’s full moon as a time to gather strawberries that were ripening, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. So consider it your reminder that summer strawberry season is here!

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