This summer solstice comes with a treat: A full strawberry moon. Here's how to see it

Skywatchers will start their summer off with a treat – a full strawberry moon. It will occur on Thursday at 4:50 p.m. EDT.

And sorry to disappoint, but the moon won't be a vibrant shade of red, but a lovely shade of gold.

The strawberry moon will be at its fullest at 9:08 p.m. EDT on Friday. According to NASA, the moon will appear full for around three days around this period, starting on Thursday night and ending on Sunday morning.

The full moon will also appear noticeably larger and lower in the sky since the summer solstice falls during the sun's yearly maximum. This is what the Old Farmers' Almanac refers to as the "Moon Illusion."

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Why is it called the strawberry moon?

According to the Almanac, the name "strawberry moon" was given its name by the Native American Algonquian tribes who lived in the northwestern U.S. The Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota tribes also used the name to mark the full moon to the harvesting of wild strawberries in June.

Where to view the strawberry moon

The moon will travel on a low arc across the sky this month, which will allow the Earth's atmosphere to reflect in the moonlight, giving it an orange or yellow hue.

The full moon is best viewed from North America on Friday when it rises in the east just before dusk. Choose a spot where you can get a low view of the eastern horizon after checking the moonrise and moonset times for your location.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has an online tool to help you find out when moonrise and moonset will occur in your area. Try searching your city or ZIP code here.

More:Upcoming June 2024 full moon will look unusually big and colorful

What is the summer solstice?

The solstice marks the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This day is known as the “longest” because it sees the most hours of daylight of the year. This year's solstice will begin on Thursday at 4:50 p.m. EDT, according to NASA.

Since Earth's axis is tilted, there are seasons. The direction of the axis remains constant while the planet revolves around the sun.

As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, we celebrate the summer solstice. As the sun's rays reach their peak intensity on the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere faces the direction of the sun.

More:Summer spectacle: Earliest solstice in 228 years coming Thursday

What's the difference between a solstice and an equinox?

Solstices occur in June and December, which mark the beginning of astronomical summer and winter, respectively. The summer solstice is when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, while the winter solstice occurs when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky.

Equinoxes – when day and night are roughly equal – occur in March and September and mark the astronomical beginning of autumn and spring in the Northern Hemisphere, respectively.

We observe the sun as it travels along its longest and highest course across the southern sky, reaching its northernmost point from Earth's equator. So, at local solar noon, the shadow you throw will be the shortest of the entire year.

When are the full moons of 2024?

Here are the four full moons of 2024, according to EarthSky.org:

• Buck Moon – July 21 – 6: 17 a.m. EDT
• Sturgeon Moon – Aug. 19 – 2:26 p.m. EDT (Full Super moon)
• Harvest Moon – Sept. 17 – 10:34 p.m. EDT (Full Super moon on 18th)
• Hunter's Moon – Oct, 17 – 7:26 a.m. EDT (Full Super moon)
• Beaver Moon – Nov. 15 – 4:29 p.m. EST (Full Super moon)
• Cold Moon – Dec. 15 – 4:02 p.m. EST

CONTRIBUTING Doyle Rice/USA TODAY

SOURCE NASA, The Old Farmers' Almanac, Earth.com, Weber State University College of Science. LiveScience.com, EarthSky.org, USA TODAY NETWORK and USA TODAY research