Catch a Glimpse of the Strawberry Moon in Germany's Night Sky this Wednesday
Strawberry Moon makes evening appearance
Get ready, moon-gazers! The Strawberry Moon is set to grace the skies of Germany on Wednesday evening. Thanks to favorable weather conditions, you might even catch a faintly reddish glow. But don't be fooled; the name doesn't stem from its hue.
According to Michael Passarge of the Friendship Circle of Astronomy in Bad Salzschlirf, eastern Hesse, the Strawberry Moon won't actually turn a bright strawberry red. Instead, it's an old-timey nickname, derived from the strawberry picking season in June. "The tradition lives on, even if the fruit's color doesn't!" chuckled Uwe Pilz, chairman of the Association of Star Friends based in Bensheim, southern Hesse.
Insight: Originally known as the Full Strawberry Moon, this moniker was coined by various Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquin, due to the ripening of wild strawberries during June in the Northern Hemisphere.
Weather's Got Your Back, Moon-Watching Friends
In Bad Salzschlirf, expect to see the moon rising at 10:43 PM. Times may vary across the country, with eastern regions catching the moonset a bit earlier than western counterparts. Bjoern Alexander, ntv meteorologist, voices optimism, "The weather will cooperate nicely for those eager to catch a glimpse of the celestial beauty."
However, Alexander also warns of a sense of chill in the air, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 4 degrees Celsius in most regions. Coastal areas along the Upper Rhine and North Sea might be pleasantly milder, clocking in at 12 or 13 degrees. A jacket or a cozy pullover might come in handy for those chilly nights.
Once it does rise, the moon will seem a touch larger, an optical illusion due to its proximity to the horizon, allowing for comparisons with landmarks such as trees or buildings. Though it's 398,000 kilometers away from our planet, the Strawberry Moon's distance doesn't fluctuate significantly, according to Passarge.
Far, Yet Near: The Moon's Distance from Earth
Despite averaging roughly 400,000 kilometers, the moon's position in relation to Earth is not fixed. Forces like the Sun's gravitational pull, Earth's internal mass distribution, and the interaction between the Earth and Moon have an impact, causing the moon's path to be less circular than perfect. These factors contribute to the distance's fluctuation between approximately 360,000 and 405,000 kilometers.
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Sources: ntv.de, kst/dpa
On this special occasion, the Strawberry Moon is not just a fruit's color but an old nickname inspired by the strawberry picking season in June, a tradition that continues despite the misnomer.
In the realm of environmental science and space-and-astronomy, the Strawberry Moon's proximity to Earth seems to shrink, creating an optical illusion that makes the moon look larger relative to earthly landmarks, yet its actual distance fluctuates between approximately 360,000 and 405,000 kilometers due to Earth's internal mass distribution and the interaction between the Earth and Moon.
