Star observers will have the opportunity to observe the second of four consecutive supermoons as the moon full of strawberries in June illuminates the sky tonight.
The spectacular lunar event will cause the moon to appear up to 17% larger and 30% brighter than usual.
Although technically it arrives today at 12:51 BST (07:51 EDT), the celestial vision will not be visible until later tonight for those in the UK and North America.
Although there is no single definition, the term supermoon generally refers to a full moon that appears brighter and larger than other moons because it is in its orbit closest to Earth.
The May flower moon was a “super blood moon” because a total lunar eclipse caused the Earth’s natural satellite to appear as a bright red disk in the sky, while the full moons of July 13 and August 11 is also likely to be classified as a supermoon.
Some parts of the scientific community, including NASA, use the definition of a supermoon established by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, who classified it as a full moon at 90% of its perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit.
Search! Star observers will have the opportunity to observe what is likely to be the second of four consecutive supermoons when the full strawberry moon in June illuminates the sky tonight (showing the strawberry moon in June). last year)
HOW TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE STRAWBERRY SUPER MOON
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich has issued a guide on how to capture the best images of the June Strawberry supermoon.
He said that whether you use a DSLR (single-lens reflex) camera, a compact camera, or a phone, you can take stunning pictures of the lunar satellite.
To improve your chances of catching a good prey, be sure to choose a location that allows for an unobstructed view of the moon.
To prevent camera shake, mount the device on a tripod.
If you have the option to adjust your device settings and want to focus only on the moon, be sure to use a telephoto lens, a long lens that allows you to capture distant objects.
Set your ISO settings to a low level (usually around 100) to reduce image noise.
It aims at a shutter speed of about 1/30 of a second, as the moon moves relatively fast across the sky.
However, retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espena calculates supermoons to account for changes in the lunar orbit each lunar cycle.
By definition, May’s full moon was a supermoon, while NASA did not classify it as such.
The full moon in June will be 222,238.4 miles (357,658 km) from our planet when it rises at sunset, and sky observers say they are looking southeast after sunset to see it crawl. if by the horizon.
Cloud cover in much of England and Wales should be minimal tonight, although people in Ireland and Scotland may have blurred vision.
If the weather is cloudy, you can still watch the Strawberry supermoon live online via a free webcast of the Virtual Telescope Project, starting at 20:15 BST (15:15 EDT).
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich encourages people to submit their photos of the supermoon to win a “brilliant astronomy award”.
“The good news is that the Super Strawberry Moon will still appear full for a few days around June 14, so there will be plenty of opportunities to capture this all-important photo,” he said.
“Due to the optical illusion, the moon often looks much larger when it is close to the horizon, so to get a truly spectacular picture, look for the moon just after sunrise or before sunset. the moon”.
The June moon gets its name because it is the time of the strawberries, when the berries are ripe to harvest.
The Farmer’s Almanac also notes that this specific full moon has had several names in the past, all related to the natural world, including the moon in bloom.
The Strawberry Moon, the last supermoon of 2021, was shown in Washington, DC last year
In June last year an almost full supermoon was photographed over Glastonbury in Somerset
Other names, often given by Native American tribes, include green corn moon, hoer moon, birth moon, egg-laying moon, honeymoon, and mead moon.
The phrase “honeymoon” may be tied to this full moon, possibly because of the tradition of getting married in June or because the “honeymoon” is the “sweetest” moon of the year.
World-class TV presenter, author and astronomer Mark Thompson has previously said that a supermoon is a great opportunity to look for features on the lunar surface.
“The ease with which the full moon can be observed makes it a fantastic object for children and newcomers to star gazing,” he added.
“See how many craters you can spot or if you can locate the Sea of Tranquility where Neil Armstrong and Edwin” Buzz “Aldrin landed in 1969.”
Taking pictures of the moon can be a challenge, explained Thompson, who said people are often inspired to capture their own image, but only see a small white spot.
“To successfully capture lunar close-ups, a long lens is essential,” he said. “Aspiring photographers should consult these Canon expert advice for more advice.”
FULL MOON NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS
January: Wolf Moon because wolves were heard more often at this time.
February: Snow moon coinciding with heavy snow.
March: Worm Moon as the Sun warmed the ground more and more and earthworms became active.
April: Pink Moon announcing the appearance of Phlox subulata or moss rose, one of the first flowers of spring.
May: Moon of flowers due to the abundance of flowers.
June: Strawberry Moon because it appeared when the strawberry harvest first took place.
July: Buck Moon when he arrived when the antlers of a male deer were in full growth mode.
August: Sturgeon moon after the big fish that was easily caught at that time.
September: Corn Moon because it was time to harvest corn.
October: Hunter’s Moon after hunting time in preparation for winter.
November: Beaver Moon because it was time to set up beaver traps.
December: Cold moon because the nights at this time of year were the longest.
Source: Old Almanac of the Farmers