COLUMBUS, Ohio — The summer solstice this year comes with a treat: the first full moon of the summer. The event is dubbed the strawberry moon since the moon’s timing aligns with the strawberry harvest.
Friday's moon will be the lowest in the sky of any other full moon this year.
What is the strawberry moon?
The moon won’t be pink or red in color: Its name comes from several Indigenous tribes who noticed that its timing coincided with the strawberry harvest.
On Friday evening, cast your eyes to the southeast to glimpse the full moon peeking above the horizon.
Columbus will be able to spot the full moon at its brightest at around 9 p.m.
What is the summer solstice?
During the solstice, which happened on Thursday, the Earth spins on a tilt as it revolves around the sun. The summer solstice occurs for Earth’s upper half when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most closely toward the sun. It also marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.
Around the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is at its most extreme tilt away from the sun, entering winter solstice and its shortest day of the year.
Six months later, the halves will switch it up: The Northern Hemisphere will experience a winter solstice, and the Southern Hemisphere will have a summer solstice.
What is an equinox?
Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn, and happen when Earth’s axis and orbit line up such that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.
The vernal equinox on March 19 kicked off spring, and the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 will usher in fall.
