How To See The Romantic, Pink-Hued Moon

Get out your telescopes and blankets because on Tuesday night, there's going to be a strawberry moon. A strawberry moon is a (kind of) pink-hued moon that can usually be found on select June nights. So, how can you watch the strawberry moon? The full moon reached its peak at 12:19 p.m. EST, but it will still be visible to the naked eye throughout the night. Tuesday should be fairly warm and clear in many parts of the country, so the strawberry moon is making its grand entrance at a good time. Check your weather to find out whether the pinkish moon will be visible to you. You should also look up the time of the sunset in your city, then maybe invest in some lawn chairs and pink cocktails. All you've got to do is go outside.

Every month's full moon has a specific name and symbolism that goes along with it, dating back to northeastern Native American culture, according to WPXI News. June's is the strawberry moon because that's when the strawberry season is at its strongest, not necessarily because of its color. The moon's presence was a symbol to start gathering such fruits and vegetables.

A strawberry moon has a lot of symbolism for lovers, so it might be the opportune time to grab a date and watch it with a starry-eyed gaze. The moon's other name, a honey moon, is where we get the word for the sweet period of marriage right after the wedding. European couples would receive a month's worth of mead, a honey-based beverage, after the wedding. The moon can also be called a hot moon because it represents the beginning of summer, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

So, be an astronomer for a night. You can be the one in your group to know all the trivia about the strawberry moon as you stargaze in a field or on a rooftop bar. Along with your star charts, make sure to check your horoscope and a cocktail menu, though it's a good idea to be wary of the crazy behavior known to go along with a full moon.

Just be sure you catch it Tuesday though, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. By June 9, only the last quarter will be visible. On June 16, it'll be gone for another year, replaced by a new moon, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. At least you can look forward to next month's buck moon or full thunder moon, which are references to the time when a male deer begins growing antlers or the time of the year that contains so many thunderstorms. Somehow, that doesn't seem as magical as a moon that centers around love and fruit.

Images: Flickr/Misty Johnson; Getty Images