The full moon rises as the June 2022 "Strawberry Supermoon" in Singapore on June 14, 2022
A “strawberry supermoon” was seen over Singapore on Tuesday (June 14) evening, with some residents sharing photographs of the unusually large and bright celestial sighting.
According to Nasa, the term supermoon refers to either a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90 per cent of perigee — the point at which the moon is closest to Earth.
A "strawberry moon", meanwhile, is a full moon that occurs during strawberry harvest time. This name is of Native American origin, said Nasa, adding that it is also known as the mead, honey or rose moon in Europe.
Rare Strawberry Supermoon Graces S’pore Sky On 14 Jun 2022
Rare events like ‘supermoons’ give us an opportunity to view our celestial neighbour as it moves closest to the Earth. It might also be a delightful surprise for residents looking out their windows to stare at evening cityscapes.
On Tues (14 Jun), Singaporeans shared photos of the rare strawberry supermoon online. According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), it is the lowest full moon of the year, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual. And fret not, if you missed it, you’ll still be able to see photographs that immortalise the event. Celestial enthusiasts shared photos of the rare strawberry supermoon that graced our skies on Tuesday night (14 Jun).
For those wondering, it’s not in a shade of red like a real strawberry. The phenomenon is apparently named after the period when June-bearing strawberries are ripe and ready for harvest. This supermoon is also the lowest full moon of 2022 — around 23.3 degrees above the horizon, according to NASA.
A Strawberry Moon Is Coming. Why the Rare Astronomical Event Is So Exciting
The moon was born in violence 4.5 billion years ago, when a planetesimal the size of Mars collided with Earth, sending a vast belt of debris into space. The belt coalesced into a cloud, and the cloud into a moon, which drifted back to a stable orbit averaging 382,000 km (roughly 238,000 mi.) from Earth. From there, the now peaceable moon helps stabilize our seasons and regulates our tides, circling the planet once every 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes.
But the moon’s orbit isn’t perfect. Irregular and egg-shaped, it can be as far as 406,000 km (252,000 mi) from Earth and as close as 357,000 km (222,000 mi). At its closest approach, or perigee, the moon appears 30% larger and 17% brighter than it usually does. And when that perigee happens to coincide with a full moon, as it does today, that’s when you get the dazzling phenomenon known as a supermoon. There is a full moon every month, of course, but supermoons are rarer, happening three to four times a year, from May to August. The new Strawberry Moon does not get its name from the color the moon will appear to be. The popular Blood Moons happen during a lunar eclipse—when the Earth moves between the moon and the sun—and the moon does appear reddish. This occurs because the Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue wavelengths of sunlight streaming through it, allowing only red to pass through, which turns the moon a faint scarlet. A Strawberry Moon, meanwhile, will be the same color as the moon ordinarily appears; only its size and luminosity will change.
The moniker “Strawberry Moon” is instead a linguistic gift from the Algonquin Native American tribe, who named the supermoon that occurs in June after the brief strawberry harvesting season that happens at the same time of year. Whatever it’s called, the latest supermoon will be at its closest, fullest, and brightest at 7:24 PM ET tonight. Given the season and the tilt of the Earth, the Strawberry Moon will never climb terribly high in the sky, rising a maximum of 23 degrees above the horizon on Wednesday morning—or about a quarter of the way above ground level. The best viewing then, is away from tall buildings or stands of trees, in open country or on relatively clear land.
Strawberry Moon spiritual meaning: Inside the history and superstitions of June Full Moon
Spiritual meaning behind Strawberry Moon
The Full Moon, termed the Strawberry Supermoon, takes place today at 12.51pm BST, 12 hours before the lunar perigee. A Supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest to Earth (termed the perigee) at the same time the Moon is full, which makes it appear much bigger and brighter than usual. The reason behind its peculiar ‘Strawberry’ name comes from the Algonquin Native American tribe in the northeastern US and eastern Canada and refers to the wild strawberries that ripen during this time of year ready for harvest.
Despite the exciting name, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Moon will be red. However, there are some other exciting connotations to it. The Strawberry Moon is ‘ripe’ with spiritual meaning, as mentioned it refers to the nutritious wild food staple that was only available for a short time each year. It also perfectly aligns with the Full Moon’s general spiritual significance of enlightenment, illumination, and setting fresh, new intentions. Other historical nicknames for June’s full moon include Honey Moon, Blooming Moon, and Rose Moon, as according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, are synonymous with the sense of sweetness in the air during the early summer months when fragrant gardens reached their peak.
Love and luck also bear spiritual significance to the June Strawberry Supermoon, as according to the Almanac, June was seen as a particularly lucky time to marry. June is named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. Following marriage comes the ‘honeymoon’, which could refer to the alternative Moon name. When exploring the Moon’s full spiritual meaning, it’s also key to consider the zodiac placement in which it transits. This Supermoon will take place in the fiery sign of Sagittarius, known to astronomers as the explorer Moon.
Strawberry Moon Lights Up Singapore Skies
June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. The tradition of naming Moons is rich in history. Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we have long honored the Native American Moon names and the folklore of those who came before us. We follow the full Moon names that were used during Native American and Colonial times to help track the seasons—usually from the Algonquin tribes who lived in the same areas as the Colonists.
The name, Strawberry Moon, originated with Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries. Alternative European names for this Moon include the Honey Moon and the Mead Moon. It has also been called the Rose Moon, given that many roses come to life during this part of the year!
June’s full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach peak illumination at 3:12 P.M. Eastern Time on the 5th, but will not be visible until later that evening. Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see when it will appear in your area.
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WHY IS IT CALLED THE FULL STRAWBERRY MOON?
June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. The tradition of naming Moons is rich in history. Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we have long honored the Native American Moon names and the folklore of those who came before us. We follow the full Moon names that were used during Native American and Colonial times to help track the seasons—usually from the Algonquin tribes who lived in the same areas as the Colonists.
The name, Strawberry Moon, originated with Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries. Alternative European names for this Moon include the Honey Moon and the Mead Moon. It has also been called the Rose Moon, given that many roses come to life during this part of the year!
June’s full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach peak illumination at 3:12 P.M. Eastern Time on the 5th, but will not be visible until later that evening. Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see when it will appear in your area.
read more
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