Look for! The June 14 Strawberry Full Moon may look a little bigger and brighter than usual when it rises this month, making it a “supermoon” by most definitions.
Depending on which supermoon definition breed you follow, the moon will be the second of four consecutive supermoons you may see throughout the summer, which arrives in the northern hemisphere on June 21. The next full moons after that will be July 13 and August 11. .
If you’re hoping to photograph the moon, check out our best cameras for astrophotography and our best lenses for astrophotography. Also read our guide on how to photograph the moon with a camera for helpful tips for planning your lunar photo shoot.
Related: Supermoon Secrets: 7 Surprising Big Moon Facts
Some members of the community (such as NASA) follow the definition of a supermoon established by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, which defines it as a full moon that is less than 90% of its perigee, or the lowest point. closer to Earth’s orbit.
Retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, however, calculates supermoons to account for changes in the lunar orbit with each lunar cycle. In practical terms, this meant that Espenak granted May super full moon status, unlike NASA. But really, all that matters is that you take the time to get out there and take a good look.
Full moons are a fun time to view lunar features, as the rest of the sky will be washed out. With the naked eye, you can see the vast highlands and lowlands of the moon, which may appear to be certain shapes and generate stories about those shapes, depending on the culture you follow.
Binoculars or a telescope will show you huge craters, mountains, and other features on the moon’s surface. The moon is a great target for beginners with gear because you can’t miss it in the sky and it’s a relatively large object to practice automated tracking.
Looking at the moon this month will also help you prepare for key astronomical events later in the year. A lunar eclipse will occur on November 8 and will be visible in parts of Asia, Australia, North America, northern and eastern Europe and most of the South America.
Although the timing depends on your location, TimeandDate.com says (opens in a new tab) the partial eclipse begins November 8 at 5:09 a.m. EDT (09:09 GMT). The peak is at 6:19 a.m. EDT (10:16 a.m. GMT). Then, the event ends at 07:41 a.m. EDT (11:41 a.m. GMT). Note that the penumbral eclipse will start about an hour earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse.
The entire moon will pass through the deep shadow of the Earth, called the umbra. The planet will block any direct sunlight from reaching the moon. Dramatically, the moon will turn red due to sunlight scattered from Earth’s atmosphere. Sometimes we call it a “blood moon” because of its striking appearance.
Alternatively, you can try to view the October 25 partial solar eclipse. The moon will cross part of the sun in parts of Europe, western Asia and northeast Africa. (Never look at the sun with your eyes unprotected; here’s our guide to how to observe the sun safely.)
Editor’s note: If you take a great photo of the moon and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photo(s), comments, and name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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