In the Northern Hemisphere, summer has arrived, and the new season will begin with a full moon unlike any other until next June. Not only will the first full moon of summer emerge in the southeastern sky as the sun sets on Thursday evening, but it will also be the final supermoon of 2021.
Because it is the third supermoon in many months, the name supermoon may seem familiar to some stargazers. Supermoons usually appear in clusters, and anyone who misses the one rising on Thursday night will have to wait until June 14, 2022, to see another one.
Supermoon
There's more to a supermoon than a catchy moniker.
There are periods when the moon is a little closer to the Earth, called perigee, and others when it is a little further away, termed apogee, as it circles the Earth. The full moon looks significantly larger and brighter than usual when it comes around perigee, resulting in a supermoon.
Aside from supermoons, each month's full moon is given a distinct name based on the weather, animal behavior, or plant changes throughout the month.
These nicknames typically stretch back hundreds of years to Colonial Americans or Native Americans who arrived as immigrants from Europe.
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Strawberry Moon
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the full moon in June is known as the Strawberry Moon because it is the time of year when strawberries ripen in the northeastern United States.
The full moon in June is also known as the Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Green Corn Moon.
Some have dubbed this month's full moon the "Super Strawberry Moon," although it will seem similar to previous full moons throughout the year and will not be red like a ripe strawberry.
Last Supermoon of 2021
The late-June night sky has a lot more to offer than just a supermoon.
Seeing Venus
People will see Venus to the northwest low on the horizon just after the sun sets and the sky begins to darken.
Venus will be seen in the sky because it seems to be considerably brighter than any other planet or star, although it will not be visible throughout the night. Onlookers will need to look west of the horizon before 11 p.m. local time to view Earth's cosmic companion.
After midnight local time, Saturn and Jupiter will emerge in tandem in the southeast sky, blazing side by side.
Throughout most of 2020, the two planets were a conspicuous partnership, with Jupiter blazing to Saturn's right. Jupiter shines to the left of Saturn this year, reversing their roles.
On the nights of June 27, June 28, and June 29, as the moon swings by the pair, the ideal time to search for these planets will be. The planets can be seen without a telescope, but the three evenings will be excellent opportunities to set up a telescope with the moon nearby.
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