A composite picture exhibiting the Full Moons in 2020 and 2021 by month. Credit score: Soumyadeep Mukherjee.
The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is exactly sandwiched between the Solar and the Moon. This alignment ensures the whole aspect of the Moon that faces us gleams below daylight. Because of the Moon’s orbit round Earth, the angle of daylight hitting the lunar floor and being mirrored again to our planet adjustments. That creates completely different lunar phases.
The following Full Moon in 2024 is at 9:08 pm. ET on Friday, June 21, and known as the Strawberry Moon.
We’ll replace this text a number of instances every week with the newest moonrise, moonset, Full Moon schedule, and a few of what you’ll be able to see within the sky every week.
Right here’s the whole checklist of Full Moons this 12 months and their conventional names.
2024 Full Moon schedule and names of every
(all instances Jap)
- Jan. 25 — 12:54 p.m. — Wolf Moon
- Feb. 24 —7:30 a.m. — Snow Moon
- March 25 — 3 a.m. — Worm Moon
- April 23 — 7:49 p.m. — Pink Moon
- Could 23 — 9:53 a.m. — Flower Moon
- Friday, June 21 — 9:08 p.m. — Strawberry Moon
- Sunday, July 21 — 6:17 a.m. — Buck Moon
- Monday, Aug. 19 — 2:26 p.m. — Sturgeon Moon
- Tuesday, Sept. 17 — 10:34 p.m. — Corn Moon
- Thursday, Oct. 17 — 7:26 a.m. — Hunter’s Moon
- Friday, Nov. 15 — 4:28 p.m. — Beaver Moon
- Sunday, Dec. 15 — 4:02 a.m. — Chilly Moon
The phases of the Moon in June 2024
The photographs beneath present the day-by-day phases of the Moon In June. The Full Moon in June is at 6:17 a.m. on Friday, June 21, and is colloquially known as the Strawberry Moon.
The moonrise and moonset schedule this week
The next is customized from Alison Klesman’s The Sky This Week article, which you can find here.
*Occasions for dawn, sundown, moonrise, and moonset are given in native time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. native time from the identical location.
Sunday, June 2
The Moon reaches perigee, the closest level to Earth in its orbit, at 3:16 A.M. EDT. At the moment, our satellite can be 228,728 miles (368,102 km) away.
The Moon then passes 2° north of Mars at 8 P.M. EDT. Each are seen within the morning as a part of the line of planets now shining within the pre-dawn sky. So, step exterior early this morning about an hour earlier than dawn to seek out Mars and the Moon each in Pisces, standing 15° excessive at the moment within the east.
The waning Moon lies west of Mars early this morning, sitting to the Purple Planet’s higher proper within the sky. By tomorrow morning on the identical time, the Moon can be a good thinner crescent to the east of Mars, having moved to its decrease left.
An hour earlier than daybreak, three planets within the six-world lineup are already seen. Mars and Saturn are each 1st magnitude, with Saturn far to Mars’ higher proper (west) in Aquarius, practically 30° excessive presently. Neptune lies between them in Pisces, about 5.5° beneath magnitude 4.5 Lambda Piscium. The distant ice giant is magnitude 7.8 and requires binoculars or a telescope to identify.
Wait 30 extra minutes, and Uranus (magnitude 5.8 — once more, requiring optical assist) and Mercury (magnitude –1) have risen, with Uranus some 4.5° excessive and Mercury simply 1.5° excessive. Magnitude –2 Jupiter is simply rising at the moment, and can want a bit longer to climb above the horizon. See if you happen to can catch it simply earlier than dawn, although watch out to look away and cease utilizing binoculars or a telescope a number of minutes earlier than the Solar rises out of your location, which can differ from the time given beneath.
This lineup of planets will characteristic all through the week, particularly because the Moon passes by means of the road and Mercury and Jupiter meet in an in depth conjunction in simply two days. Keep tuned!
Dawn: 5:33 A.M.
Sundown: 8:24 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:54 A.M.
Moonset: 4:18 P.M.
Moon Part: Waning crescent (18%)
Monday, June 3
Dawn: 5:33 A.M.
Sundown: 8:24 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:21 A.M.
Moonset: 5:34 P.M.
Moon Part: Waning crescent (10%)
Tuesday, June 4
Dawn: 5:32 A.M.
Sundown: 8:25 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:51 A.M.
Moonset: 6:50 P.M.
Moon Part: Waning crescent (4%)
Wednesday, June 5
The Moon now passes 5° north of Jupiter at 10 A.M. EDT. The slim crescent can be an actual problem to look at, though in line with longtime Astronomy contributor Stephen James O’Meara, there are some unique and beautiful effects to be seen if you happen to can handle it.
See if you happen to can catch the practically New Moon within the sky shortly earlier than daybreak. Should you do, you would possibly expertise the lunar blackdrop impact, which may forged darkish stripes on the final illuminated bits of the lunar crescent. These stripes aren’t actual, however are as a substitute an phantasm brought on by each the diffraction of daylight and the turbulence of our ambiance, by means of which we’re viewing the Moon (and all different celestial objects). In actual fact, you would possibly discover these stripes dance, waver, or disappear and reappear if you happen to’re capable of observe the slim crescent over time. The extra turbulent the ambiance — and the poorer your native seeing — the extra doubtless you might be to see the stripes.
Notably intrepid observers can attempt to catch this impact once more tomorrow morning, simply hours earlier than the Moon lastly reaches its New phase.
Dawn: 5:32 A.M.
Sundown: 8:26 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:26 A.M.
Moonset: 8:05 P.M.
Moon Part: Waning crescent (1%)
Thursday, June 6
New Moon happens at 8:38 A.M. EDT this morning, leaving our sky darkish, moonless, and ideal for deep-sky observers.
Longtime observers know that though the photographs of galaxies and nebulae we see are sometimes stunningly multicolored, most objects don’t showcase vivid hues by means of the eyepiece when visually observing. However some do, and one in every of these is NGC 7662, additionally known as the Blue Snowball and the brightest planetary nebula within the constellation Andromeda.
Dawn: 5:32 A.M.
Sundown: 8:26 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:11 A.M.
Moonset: 9:15 P.M.
Moon Part: New
Friday, June 7
Dawn: 5:31 A.M.
Sundown: 827 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:04 A.M.
Moonset: 10:15 P.M.
Moon Part: Waxing crescent (2%)
The phases of the Moon
The phases of the Moon are: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Final Quarter, and waning crescent. A cycle ranging from one Full Moon to its subsequent counterpart, termed the synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.
Although a Full Moon solely happens in the course of the precise second when Earth, Moon, and Solar kind an ideal alignment, to our eyes, the Moon appears Full for round three days.
Completely different names for several types of Full Moon
There are all kinds of specialised names used to determine distinct sorts or timings of Full Moons. These names primarily hint again to a mix of cultural, agricultural, and pure observations in regards to the Moon, aimed toward permitting people to not solely predict seasonal adjustments, but additionally monitor the passage of time.
As an illustration, nearly each month’s Full Moon boasts a reputation sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or different North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s occasions.
Wolf Moon (January): Impressed by the cries of hungry wolves.
Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s typically heavy snowfall.
Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that sign thawing grounds.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.
Flower Moon (Could): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the brand new antlers on bucks.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the ample sturgeon fish.
Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting interval.
Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the looking season previous winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Displays the time when beavers are busy constructing their winter dams.
Chilly Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.
As well as, there are a couple of further names for Full Moons that generally make their method into public conversations and information.
Tremendous Moon: This time period is reserved for a Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest level to Earth in its orbit. This proximity renders the Full Moon unusually massive and luminous. For a Full Moon to earn the Tremendous Moon tag, it ought to be inside roughly 90 p.c of its closest distance to Earth.
Blue Moon: A Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons. This phenomenon graces our skies roughly each 2.7 years. Although the time period suggests a shade, Blue Moons aren’t really blue. Very often, atmospheric circumstances equivalent to current volcanic eruptions would possibly lend the Moon a barely blueish tint, however this hue isn’t tied to the time period.
Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, usually in September, the Harvest Moon is usually famend for a definite orange tint it would show. This Full Moon rises near sundown and units close to dawn, offering prolonged hours of vibrant moonlight. Traditionally, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.
Widespread questions on Full Moons
What’s the distinction between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth lies between the Solar and the Moon, making the whole Moon’s face seen. Conversely, throughout a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Solar, shrouding its Earth-facing aspect in darkness.
How does the Full Moon affect tides? The Moon’s gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. Throughout each Full and New Moons, the Solar, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating “spring tides.” These tides can swing exceptionally excessive or low because of the mixed gravitational influences of the Solar and Moon.
Do Full Moons have an effect on human conduct? Whereas quite a few tales counsel Full Moons stir human conduct, inflicting elevated restlessness and even lunacy, rigorous scientific analyses have largely debunked these tales.
Full Moons, of their myriad types, stand testomony to humanity’s enduring captivation with the cosmos. They evoke not simply our celestial connection but additionally tether us to Earth’s rhythms. Whether or not you’re an avid stargazer or an occasional night time sky admirer, Full Moons invariably name for our consideration, inviting each introspection and marvel.
Listed here are the dates for all of the lunar phases in 2024:
| New | First Quarter | Full | Final Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 3 | |||
| Jan. 11 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 25 | Feb. 2 |
| Feb. 9 | Feb. 16 | Feb. 24 | March 3 |
| March 10 | March 17 | March 25 | April 1 |
| April 8 | April 15 | April 23 | Could 1 |
| Could 7 | Could 15 | Could 23 | Could 30 |
| June 6 | June 14 | June 21 | June 28 |
| July 5 | July 13 | July 21 | July 27 |
| Aug. 4 | Aug. 12 | Aug. 19 | Aug 26 |
| Sept. 2 | Sept. 11 | Sept. 17 | Sept. 24 |
| Oct. 2 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 17 | Oct. 24 |
| Nov. 1 | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 22 |
| Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 |
| Dec. 30 |
