To the readers that didn’t bother to look up at the night sky last night to catch the meteorological phenomenon, no, the moon did not turn into the shade of a strawberry.
At most, and from the distance, it was yellow, so bright and big that you could perceive the largest craters etched into its surface.
What is a Strawberry Supermoon?
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the term “supermoon” refers to either a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90 percent of perigee, aka the point at which the moon is closest to the earth.
As for why there’s the word “strawberry” in front of this particular instance, well, it is because the full moon occurred during strawberry harvest time.
Its name is Native American in origin, though in other regions of Europe, it is also referred to as the mead, honey, or rose moon.
The strawberry supermoon witnessed on Tuesday evening (June 14) happens to be the lowest full moon of the year.
Based on NASA’s calculations, the moon will rise approximately 23.3 degrees above the horizon, because the phenomenon is happening just ahead of the summer solstice—the day with the most daylight—which falls on 21 June.
Unlike eclipses that happen once every 18 months, supermoons happen three to four times a year.
Supermoons are also 17% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
Celestial bodies are seriously galactic features of wonder.
Supermoon Will Appear in the Sky on 15 June As Well
If you missed out on seeing the strawberry supermoon last night, don’t worry, it’ll still be hanging in the skies tonight.
It won’t just disappear, naturally; that’s not how moon phases work.
And if you happen to have a good telescope on hand, this is an excellent chance to whip it out, because you’ll be able to spot the craters and mountains on the lunar surface with it.
The administrator of Stargazing Singapore Facebook group, Geradyn Brittos, noted that the moon was at its full illumination at 7:51pm in the southeast direction on Tuesday.
As long as the skies remain clear tonight, you are bound to notice the round and beautiful moon, no matter where you are on the island.
The moon will start rising at 8:12pm, and will be visible by 8:30pm, providing that the skies are clear of clouds.
Instead of looking at your phone screens, look up at the sky for size; the celestial body is certainly worthy of admiration.
Featured Images: Facebook (Benjamin Ong & Joe Isabel)