Strawberry Moon Summer Solstice 2016
Channel: Islands East 'n' West
Date: 2016-06-22

On June 20, 2016 a full moon coincided with the summer solstice for the first time since 1967. The full moon in June is known as the strawberry moon. A strawberry moon is not red or pink as might be expected. Instead, the name refers to the full moon in June, heralded by Native American Algonquin tribes as the beginning of the strawberry picking season. The low angle of the moon at this time of year means its light must go through thicker, warmer air - which can lead to an amber glow. 
North American Indians had names for different phases of the moon to keep track of the seasons and gave a unique name to each full moon to identify the month during which each occurred.
Before calendars were invented many cultures gave names to full moons throughout the year including the Chinese and English. Some obvious names in the north are: - February: The Snow Moon; September: The Harvest Moon; October: The Hunter's Moon; December: The Cold Moon, and so on. 
A less rare Luna event is the Blue Moon. Originally the definition of a blue moon was the fourth full moon in a single season. But an error printed in the March 1946 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine wrongly stated that a blue moon was the second full moon in a single month and that definition has stuck, being more understandable. Under the modern definition the next blue moon will be on January 31, 2018. 
In 1999 there were two blue moons that year, two full moons in January and two in March. The next year of double monthly blue moons will; be in January and March, 2018 and then again in January and March, 2037. Perhaps they should be given distinguishing names as well. Why January and March? Because February only has 28 days, which is shorter than a lunar cycle. 
Video taken with camcorder Panasonic HC-V210.

Tags: strawberry moon, summer solstice, rose moon, flower moon, honey moon, hot moon,  planting moon, june, rustington, england, full moon, 2016, blue moon, harvest moon, hunters moon,