Full 'Strawberry Moon' on Friday the 13th for first time in 95 years
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There's something rosy about this Friday the 13th.
It's the first full moon on a Friday the 13th in June in 95 years, according to Earthsky.org, and it also happens to be a "Strawberry Moon" or "Honey Moon." It may appear pink, or have a gold hue.
The name Strawberry Moon is given to full moons that happen in June, according to National Geographic.
It dates back to ancient cultures, when moons were named based on the behaviors of plants, animals or the weather. In North America, the harvesting of strawberries in June gave the full moon its name. Europeans call it the Rose Moon and other cultures named it the Hot Moon for the beginning of summer heat.
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The Strawberry Moon tends to appear pink if there's enough humidity in the air, explained David Falkner, president of the Minnesota Astronomical Society. "The humidity acts as a lens," he said. "If the air gets drier, it may not be as evident."
He added that a low moon seen through the horizon might look pinker than when it's high in the sky. That's because when you look out to the horizon, you're looking through more air mass and "any humidity is kind of compounded." This full moon rides especially low because it's so near the summer solstice on June 21.
If it's not humid enough, it may appear yellow, he said.
Any moon in June or in warmer months that carry humidity can appear pink, Falkner said, but people pay more attention to it when it's a full moon.
He said he always enjoys seeing the moon, especially when it's just rising and appears to be much larger than when it's high in the sky. And this moon tends to stay low.
"It's an optical illusion, and it's pretty incredible," he said. "The illusion is caused by looking close to the horizon, where you have objects you can compare it to, like trees or roads. In the sky, you have nothing to compare it to."
The last time a full moon fell on a Friday the 13th in the month of June was in 1919, according to Earthsky.org.
Past and future full moons on Friday the 13th:
March 13, 1903
October 13, 1905
June 13, 1919
January 13, 1922
November 13, 1970
July 13, 1984
February 13, 1987
March 13, 1998
October 13, 2000
June 13, 2014
August 13, 2049
April 13, 2063
November 13, 2065
February 13, 2082
