I See a Honey Moon Rising

Look to the skies this evening, especially after midnight, to see the Friday the 13th moon in all its lunar loveliness.

The moon will be lower in the sky, making for good viewing conditions (as long as the dreaded clouds in the forecast don't overpower the sky!) 

If the Friday the 13th moniker is too scary, how about the Honey Moon, Rose Moon or Strawberry Moon? Let's talk about why the moon has these nicknames:

"This name [the Strawberry Moon] was universal to every Algonquin tribe," according to the Farmers Almanac website. "However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!"

Why is it called the Rose Moon? Strawberries aren't native to Europe, the Farmers Almanac notes.

Now the Honey Moon name is a little confusing. EarthSky said it's because the moon never gets that high in the sky.

But what does that have to do with honey? I like to think it's because the moon takes on a honey hue. Since it's lower in the sky, we're seeing it through more of our planet's atmosphere, according to EarthSky.

The last time a full moon fell on Friday, June 13, was in 1919, according to Universe Today. The next occurrence of a June 13 full moon is in 2098, the site reports.

If Our CT Skies Are Too Cloudy

Slooh is conducting a live broadcast of the Friday the 13th Honey Moon here. Happy viewing, stargazers! 

If you're interested in astronomy, check out The Night Sky with Rick Bria and Astronomy with Aaron.