Why this full moon is called the Strawberry Moon: NPR

The Strawberry Moon rises behind St Michael’s Mount at Marazion near Penzance on June 28, 2018, in Cornwall, England.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The Strawberry Moon rises behind St Michael’s Mount at Marazion near Penzance on June 28, 2018, in Cornwall, England.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

What’s in a name? What we call a strawberry moon, by any other word, would smell just as good.

The June Full Moon, also known as the “Strawberry Moon,” arrives Saturday evening and peaks at 11:42 p.m. ET. It’s expected to be big, bright and golden – a great way to celebrate the start of summer.

According to NASA, the full moon will last all weekend, from Friday evening to Monday morning.

If you are lucky enough to be near clear skies this weekend, look for the bright star, Antares, which will appear near the right of the moon. Venus and Mars should also be prominent, NASA said.

“Strawberry moon” has nothing to do with the hue of the big rock

The popular nickname for the full moon in June comes from the Algonquin tribes. They called it the “strawberry moon” to mark the peak ripening of strawberries in the northeastern United States.

In fact, many full moon names have their origins in early Native American tribes, including the full moon in March, called the worm moon, as well as the full moon in May, known as the flower moon.

Oddly enough, the June Full Moon’s other nicknames have very little to do with her physical features. “Honeymoon” is an old European name, referring to the end of June, when the honey was ready to be harvested.

“Rose Moon” is another European name that relates to agriculture. In this case, it pays homage to the roses that bloom in June. (Although NASA said some sources indicate the name also refers to the moon’s reddish color when low in the sky.)