• A pink supermoon is seen in the background as people relax on the beach in Miami Beach, US, on June 24, 2021. Four supermoons will grace the skies in 2022. AFP
    A pink supermoon is seen in the background as people relax on the beach in Miami Beach, US, on June 24, 2021. Four supermoons will grace the skies in 2022. AFP
  • An aeroplane is pictured against an almost full pink supermoon, in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP
    An aeroplane is pictured against an almost full pink supermoon, in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP
  • A man watches on as an almost full pink supermoon rises over Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images
    A man watches on as an almost full pink supermoon rises over Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images
  • A pink supermoon is pictured near a lighthouse in Tirana, Albania. Reuters
    A pink supermoon is pictured near a lighthouse in Tirana, Albania. Reuters
  • A full pink supermoon rises above the Emirates Air Line cable car in London, Britain. Reuters
    A full pink supermoon rises above the Emirates Air Line cable car in London, Britain. Reuters
  • A full pink supermoon rises over the skyline of New York and Empire State Building, as seen from West Orange, in New Jersey, US. Reuters
    A full pink supermoon rises over the skyline of New York and Empire State Building, as seen from West Orange, in New Jersey, US. Reuters
  • A full pink supermoon is seen rising behind the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, in York, Maine, US. EPA
    A full pink supermoon is seen rising behind the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, in York, Maine, US. EPA
  • A full pink supermoon rises above Havana, Cuba. AFP
    A full pink supermoon rises above Havana, Cuba. AFP
  • A pink supermoon rises behind the stork in a nest in the village of Rzanicino near Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. EPA
    A pink supermoon rises behind the stork in a nest in the village of Rzanicino near Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. EPA
  • A full pink supermoon sets over the famous Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images
    A full pink supermoon sets over the famous Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images
  • A full pink supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor in Glastonbury, England. Getty Images
    A full pink supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor in Glastonbury, England. Getty Images
  • A full pink supermoon rising behind a statue of the Christ in Wolxheim, France. AFP
    A full pink supermoon rising behind a statue of the Christ in Wolxheim, France. AFP
  • A full pink supermoon rises over Nicosia on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. AP Photo
    A full pink supermoon rises over Nicosia on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. AP Photo
  • The moon rises to become a pink supermoon among the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore. Reuters
    The moon rises to become a pink supermoon among the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore. Reuters
  • A view of the Golden Horn, with a full pink supermoon rising behind Istanbul's iconic Galata Tower. AP Photo
    A view of the Golden Horn, with a full pink supermoon rising behind Istanbul's iconic Galata Tower. AP Photo

Strawberry Moon: last supermoon of the year to light up UAE skies on June 24


Sarwat Nasir
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Stargazers in the UAE can catch a glimpse of the Strawberry Moon on Thursday night.

This will be the last supermoon of the year and will be visible with the naked eye.

A supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit and appears larger than normal.

Native American tribes in the 1930s called it a "Strawberry Moon" because the event coincided with strawberry harvesting season.

"The Maine Farmer's Almanac first published 'Indian' names for the full moons in the 1930s," Nasa said.

“According to this almanac, as the full moon in June and the last full moon of spring, the Algonquin tribes called this the Strawberry Moon.

"The name comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the north-eastern United States.”

The Farmers' Almanac is an annual US periodical that has been in publication since 1818.

The first supermoon of the year was in April and appeared 7 per cent bigger and 14 per cent brighter than a regular moon.

The second appeared in May and was the biggest and brightest one of the year.

Other coming astronomical events in the UAE include the Perseid meteor shower in August, the Leonid meteor shower in November and the Geminid meteor shower in December.

Geminid meteor shower in the UAE - in pictures 

  • A Geminids meteor shower lit up UAE skies on December 13, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A Geminids meteor shower lit up UAE skies on December 13, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • About 200 people turned up at Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah to watch the celestial event as part of a gathering organised by the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    About 200 people turned up at Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah to watch the celestial event as part of a gathering organised by the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Geminid meteor shower in Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National
    The Geminid meteor shower in Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National
  • Another shot of the Geminid meteor shower from Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National
    Another shot of the Geminid meteor shower from Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National
  • The showers were the most visible ones of the year in the UAE and were at their peak from 10pm to 2am. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The showers were the most visible ones of the year in the UAE and were at their peak from 10pm to 2am. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Clear skies and no Moon interference enhanced the experience. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Clear skies and no Moon interference enhanced the experience. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Those who watched away from light pollution were wowed by the large number of 'shooting stars'. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Those who watched away from light pollution were wowed by the large number of 'shooting stars'. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People of all ages attended the gathering. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People of all ages attended the gathering. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Members of the Dubai Astronomy Group gave presentations and educated guests on the celestial event. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Members of the Dubai Astronomy Group gave presentations and educated guests on the celestial event. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The showers were visible to the naked eye, but telescopes were available to see the 'shooting stars' up close and observe other planets. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The showers were visible to the naked eye, but telescopes were available to see the 'shooting stars' up close and observe other planets. Chris Whiteoak / The National