- When the moon will rise after the sun sets on the summer solstice
- Future full moons, supermoons and a partial lunar eclipse happen this summer
- Meteor showers, other summer night sky spectacles coming soon
Shasta, Siskiyou and other North State counties will have a bright night after the longest day of the year on Friday, June 21.
Shortly after the sun sets on the summer solstice, June’s full “strawberry” moon will rise over Redding just after 9 p.m. It will peak in the sky over Northern California just after midnight, according to astronomy and weather website Time and Date.
Because the June 21 moonrise so close to the solstice, this full moon will look bigger and may appear tinted in colors when close to the horizon ― but not in strawberry red.
Here’s why the moon may appear bigger than usual on June 21, why it is called the strawberry moon, and when to expect summer meteor showers and an end-of-summer partial lunar eclipse.
Why is June’s full moon called the strawberry moon?
Like other full moons, the name of June’s full moon is based on what is growing in North America this time of year, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In the late spring/beginning of summer many berries were ready to be harvested in the northeastern United States, hence using strawberry.
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According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Algonquin tribes inhabiting the northeastern U.S., along with the Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota people, used the strawberry moon to mark the time for gathering June-bearing strawberries.
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice marks the astronomical first day of the summer season in June in the Northern Hemisphere.
This is also when the Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. This makes it the longest day with the longest period of sunlight and shortest night of the calendar year.
Why is the moon so big?
According to NASA, June’s full moon will be the lowest full moon in 2024. Due to this low position it will appear bigger than ever. This is known as the moon illusion, according to NASA: Our brains perceive the moon as larger when it’s closer to the horizon. Photos demonstrate this is indeed just a trick our brains play on us.
Just after it rises in the southeast, the moon may also appear golden in color when close to the horizon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What are the different full moons called? When will they be, and when are there supermoons?
In North America, names given to each monthly full moon are derived from Native American traditions. In the 1930s, the Maine Farmer’s Almanac began publishing Native American names for full moons, according to NASA.
The biggest full moons of the year, supermoons, happen when the moon is at its closest point (perigee) to Earth in its orbit: About 226,000 miles. The moon looks slightly larger and brighter because it’s closer to Earth. At its farthest point (apogee), the moon is an average of 253,000 miles away, according to NASA.
Here’s when other full moons rise in 2024:
- July 21: Buck moon
- Aug. 19: Sturgeon moon
- Sept. 17: Harvest moon, supermoon
- Oct. 17: Hunter’s moon, supermoon
- Nov. 15: Beaver moon, supermoon
- Dec. 15: Cold moon
Meteor showers and eclipse: What else is happening in the night sky this summer?
Here are dark sky events over Shasta and Siskiyou counties to see this summer, most visible to the naked eye, according to NASA, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, SeaSky.org, EarthSky.org and the American Meteor Society.
Times and dates are adjusted for Pacific Standard Time, so some dates may differ from sources that list East Coast or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower: Best viewing for this shower is where it originates in the southern sky around midnight between July 28 and July 30, but expect similar numbers of fireballs several days before and after. This shower overlaps with the Perseids, so viewing could be great Average during the first week of August. Meteors per hour: 15-20.
Perseids Meteor Shower: The Perseids is the best overall annual meteor shower, a fan favorite and a reason to plan family camping trips in early August. While it originates from the northeast, it can usually be seen in every direction. It peaks late on Aug. 11 and mornings on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. Best times to view are midnight to dawn, but fireballs should be visible in the evening, too. Average meteors per hour: 50-60 or more.
Best views of Saturn: The solar system’s second largest planet and the one with the brightest rings is best seen in the mornings from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, and in the evenings from Sept. 8 to Oct. 1. Saturn is visible to the naked eye, but its rings and a few of its 83 moons are visible with a basic telescope.
Partial lunar eclipse: The second eclipse visible in the North State in 2024 is a partial lunar eclipse. It peaks around 7:12 p.m. on Sept. 17. A partial lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, but the sun, Earth and moon don’t exactly line up. A slice of moon peeks out during the eclipse. Something that makes September’s eclipse extra special is it happens during a supermoon.
Regarding meteor showers, the number of meteors visible per hour are based on darkest skies, so if you’re viewing in an area with streetlights or other artificial light, count on seeing fewer fireballs.
USA Today Reporter Joyce Orlando contributed to this story.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter@RS_JSkropanic and onFacebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work,please subscribe today. Thank you.
