The ‘strawberry moon’ will look huge in WA this week. Here’s when to see it

If you didn’t catch June’s full moon yet, often referred to as the “strawberry moon,” it is still visible in Washington this week.

But you’ll have to stay up late to see it.

In fact, this year’s strawberry moon will be at the lowest point in the sky in decades, due to a phenomenon that causes the moon’s tilted orbit to be dragged around by the sun’s gravitational influence, according to EarthSky.org. This year’s strawberry moon will also happen at the same time as a major lunar standstill, according to Weather.com.

Here’s when to look up and the origins of the moon’s name.

When can you see the strawberry moon in WA?

The strawberry moon will reach peak illumination on Wednesday, June 11, at 12:44 a.m. Pacific, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac .

Stargazers can look for the moon rising low in the east after sunset on June 10, according to EarthSky.org. It will reach its highest point in the sky after midnight on June 11, and it’ll lie low in the west shortly before sunrise.

Why is it called a strawberry moon?

Though the moon does appear a reddish color when it’s close to the horizon, the name “strawberry moon” has nothing to do with its color.

The name has been used by Native American tribes to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Other names for the moon include the “Blooming Moon,” which some Native American tribes used to mark the start of flowering season, and the “Birth Moon,” which refers to a certain time when animals are born in the region.