Strawberry Moon in PICTURES: June's full moon shines in SPECTACULAR images
STUNNING pictures have emerged of the seventh full moon of the year - known as the Strawberry Moon - which has risen today and marked the beginning of the strawberry picking season.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, an American guide to nature, folklore and astronomy, the Strawberry Moon’s name derives from the Native American Algonquin tribes.
The Algonquin tribes would name the different phases of the moon to keep track of the seasons and the changes in the landscape around them.
The world has been impatiently waiting for tonight’s special lunar event as super-bright Saturn will also be visible in the sky tonight along with the Strawberry Moon.
Saturn appeared at around midnight, reached its highest at 1am (BST) and will be visible for at least a month.
Meanwhile, the moon will turn precisely full at 5.53am BST but breath-taking pictures of the lunar event have already transpired.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the celestial body was seen rising in all its glory over London.
Some diners on the 31st and 32nd floor restaurants of the Shard skyscraper can be seen enjoying the the breathtaking view of the Strawberry Moon.
Pictures from Dublin have also emerged showing the moon appearing over the chimneys at the Guinness factory during the sunset.
Two more breath-taking images captured a helicopter and a passenger plane passing in front of the majestic natural satellite in the evening.
As it can be seen from the pictures, despite its name, the Strawberry Moon does not have a deep red or pink colour.
It can exude a slight pinkish colour but only when it is close to the horizon.
The reason for the name “strawberry” has nothing to do with the colour but it is only related to the kickoff of strawberry season.
In other parts of the world the June full moon is also known as the Honey Moon or Mead Moon.
The next significant lunar event to grace our skies will be a lunar eclipse at the end of July and this time the moon will indeed change its colour.
The eclipse is set to occur between July 27 and 28, and will be the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century.
The rare occurrence will be seen across large parts of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and Southern America, however the USA will not be able to enjoy the celestial event.
The eclipse will also be a Blood Moon, and will turn an eerie shade of red.
The entire list of this year’s full moons is:
January 31 – Wolf Moon
March 31 – Worm Moon
April 29 – Pink Moon
May 29 – Flower Moon
June 28 – Strawberry Moon
July 27 – Buck Moon
August 26 – Sturgeon Moon
September 24 – Full Corn Moon
October 24 – Hunter’s Moon
November 23 – Beaver’s Moon
December 22 – Cold Moon