Witnessing a Rare Natural Phenomenon Every 18 Years
🌕 Strawberry Moon's Spectacular Show
The Strawberry Moon, known for gracing our skies in June, turned heads yet again. On the evening of June 11th, right around 10 PM local time, the moon rolled out a breathtaking performance across Old World Lands (OWL) as it approached the horizon, a sight only witnessed every 18 years. The gorgeous spectacle was made even more captivating due to Earth's atmosphere, which lent a radiant glow to the moon. Photographers in Germany were thrilled as they captured this rare display, one featuring in OWL.
Friedrich Föst, a seasoned meteorologist, had predicted a near-perfect viewing experience: "The Strawberry Moon should shine brightly across OWL, with a mostly clear sky amidst the night." Although a few thin, wispy clouds hovered overhead, they barely dampened the magnificence. As Föst put it, "Even with these clouds, the moon will still dazzle no end."
The term "Strawberry Moon" stems from the Native American Algonquin tribe, whose members named the June full moon thus because it coincided with the ripening of strawberries. The moniker also goes by "Honey Moon" or "Rose Moon."
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The Strawberry Moon's vivid appearance was jaw-dropping. Its light scattered, resulting in a slight reddish tint. This was due to the short blue light waves from the sun failing to reach the moon, leaving the longer red waves to make their way through. As for the amplified brightness and size, Friedrich Föst elucidated, "It's all thanks to an optical illusion caused by Earth's atmosphere."
A Wobbly World, A Loitering Moon
But how does this enchanting anomaly arise? The secret unveiled by Föst involves our planet's precession. Imagine the Earth as a somewhat unstable spinning top, gradually wobbling as it spins. This wobble, known as precession, results from the Earth's axis tilting more or less.
Every 18 years, this peculiar movement positions the moon disturbingly close to the horizon as viewed from Earth.
Is Your Slumber Affected by the Luna-Lullaby?
What brings joy to one, Andrew Johnson, may keep another tossing and turning, like Eve. Many argue that their sleep quality plummets during a full moon. But does the moon, which rules the tides, really dictate our slumber?
Alas, research is murky on the subject. A comprehensive study by Munich's Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in 2014 claimed no moon-sleep connection, analyzing data from 1,265 people across almost 2,100 nights. However, the researchers believe humans might possess an innate "moon rhythm," akin to our circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Yet, psychologists frequently point to a self-fulfilling prophecy effect, implying that firmly believing you'll lose sleep under a full moon may very well lead to restlessness.
Snapshots of awe
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If you've snapped some stellar shots of the Strawberry Moon, we'd love to see them. Please submit your photos to us via email (subject: Moon) and include the photographer's name. If we find your image captivating enough, we'll proudly feature it in our gallery.
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- The captivating Strawberry Moon, shining across home-and-garden and lifestyle scene, left an impression and inspired photographers to capture its beauty.
- The Strawberry Moon, with its sustainable-living methods illuminating the skies, shared a special bond with both the natural world and its observers.
