Despite its name, the “strawberry moon” is not typically pink or red. But with the Saharan Dust sweeping through Texas, the first full moon of the summer may finally live up to its name.
The “strawberry moon,” set to appear in the Texas sky about 7 p.m. Monday, has nothing to do with the rosy hue of the summer fruit. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, its name is a nod to the Algonquin Native American tribe, which used the moon as a marker for the strawberry harvesting symbol. It typically appears golden because of its proximity to the horizon, according to EarthSky.
But Mary Wasson, a newsroom meteorologist for the San Antonio Express-News, said the Saharan Dust sweeping across the region could make the moon appear more red than usual.
“The moon could appear more vibrant tonight due to the extra dust particles in the atmosphere,” Wasson wrote. “Due to a scientific phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering, the moon could appear a little more vibrant with a reddish-orange hue, especially when it’s low in the horizon.”
A cloud of Saharan Dust is set to descend on North Texas this week, with the denser parts of the plume predicted to arrive on Monday. Dallas residents will likely see a widespread haze settle over the city, lowering air quality and reducing visibility.
Rayleigh scattering from the Saharan dust — the deflection of light off molecules in the air — typically contributes to more vibrant sunrises and sunsets. This could also cause Monday’s “strawberry moon” to take on a reddish tint.
The “strawberry moon” is the lowest-hanging moon of the year, making it appear strikingly large as it peaks over the horizon, according to EarthSky.
But in reality, Monday’s “strawberry moon” will be one of the smallest full moons of the year.
Tonight’s moon will appear just a day after apogee, when the moon is at its farthest point from the Earth. This means that it will technically be a “micromoon” — a particularly distant far moon — although the naked eye won’t be able to tell the difference, according to EarthSky.
Astronomer enthusiasts in the Dallas area can best see the celestial phenomenon outside of the light pollution of downtown. Lake Ray Hubbard or White Rock Lake, with a direct view of the southeast, are great places to see the spectacle. The moon will reach its peak at 6:56 p.m. Monday, but it will appear remarkably bright Tuesday evening, as well.