. Spring announces its end with its last full moon, a phase of the natural satellite that represents the moment in which its orbit be tilted to the maximum with respect to the plane of the earth. Although his name can evoke many things, he really has nothing to do with his color. It is not an astrononic phenomenon or the appearance of the natural satellite, but rather a term that comes from American indigenous peoples that associated it with the harvest of strawberries in the United States. This year the moon has reached its most north possible position, becoming 28.6 degrees. A phenomenon that will not be repeated until 2043.
This full moon will reach its maximum point at 09.44 in the Spanish peninsular hour of June 11. From Madrid, the best time to contemplate will be a few hours later, around 21.30 at night, they recommend from the planetarium in Madrid. The phenomenon is due to the position of the nodes line, that is, the point where the lunar orbit crosses the ecliptic, which is the orbit of the earth, and that is not fixed. “Turn slowly back in a retrograde direction, completing a lap every 18 and a half years,” he explains, researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands.
This movement is called precession of lunar nodes. When they are aligned with land solstices, “the effects are added,” adds the expert.
Almost imperceptible to the human eye
disseminator of the planetarium of Madrid, explains that at first glance it will be invaluable. “It will be a normal full and current moon. It is going to look very low with respect to the horizon, as always happens in summer,” he says.
The difference is that this full moon, explains the disseminator, will be about five degrees “lower than normal”, which has not occurred since 2006. Although it will not be able to appreciate in detail, what is certain is that the star can be observed from anywhere with a clear view. “It gives practically the same to see it at sunset from the previous day or at sunset of the same day, the human eye will not see any difference,” Javier Licandro complements.
“You can use a telescope or a prismatic, which will give a fairly beautiful vision, because it is as if it is seen in relief,” González suggests.
