The final full moon of spring is a treat as sweet as its name, and it rises in the night sky on Friday, June 5, 2020 (6/5/2020). The Strawberry Moon, also known as the Mead Moon or Honey Moon, will be worth gazing skyward for starting Thursday night and going through early Sunday morning.
“This name originated with Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Other names for this moon include the Hot Moon, Hoe Moon, Planting Moon. The “strawberry” moniker doesn’t indicate anything about the moon’s appearance, so don’t expect a big red ball in the sky.
The Strawberry Moon will reach peak fullness at 3:12 p.m. ET, on Friday, but will also appear full on Thursday and Saturday, and into the morning on Sunday. This means that in Upstate New York, you won’t be able to view it at 100% full. In Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa, it will appear as a penumbral lunar eclipse.
Here are the optimal viewing times for the Syracuse, NY area, according to TimeandDate.com:
Thursday:
Moonrise at 7:32 p.m. in the East-Southeast sky. Moonset is at 5:19 a.m. on Friday morning. The moon does not pass the meridian on this day. The weather forecast is cloudy and showers on Thursday evening.
Friday:
Moonrise at 8:46 p.m. in the East-Southeast sky. Moonset is at 6:05 a.m. on Saturday morning. The moon passes the meridian at 12:19 a.m. on Saturday morning. The weather forecast is partly cloudy with isolated Thunderstorms on Friday evening.
Saturday:
Moonrise at 9:54 p.m. in the East-Southeast sky. Moonset is at 6:58 a.m. on Sunday morning. The moon passes the meridian at 1:29 a.m. on Sunday morning. The weather forecast is partly cloudy on Saturday evening.
These may not be the optimal viewing conditions, but if you’re craving a peaceful lunar gazing experience, we have some recommendations for you.
There are 13 full moons, including 2 supermoons and a blue moon throughout the year in 2020. The next full moon, July’s Buck Moon or Thunder Moon, happens on July 5. You can find a full schedule of full moons for the rest of 2020 here.