Kansas stargazers will be able to see a ‘strawberry moon’ peak soon. Here’s when to look
Wichita residents will have the chance to see a popular full moon peak this weekend, and a nearby observatory will be open to the public for viewing.
The “strawberry moon” will appear full in Kansas from Friday evening to Monday morning. This particular moon is also known by several other names.
The name “strawberry moon” is attributed to the Algonquian, Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota peoples, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It marks the peak of strawberry harvest season.
Here are some of the other names for June’s full moon, from The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Blooming moon (attributed to the Anishinaabe)
Green corn moon (Cherokee)
Hoer moon (Western Abenaki)
Birth moon (Tlingit)
Egg laying moon (Cree)
Hatching moon (Cree)
Honey moon (European)
Mead moon (Eurpoean)
Here’s when to see this year’s strawberry moon in the Wichita area, plus when to catch more full moons in 2023.
When can you see the strawberry moon in Wichita?
The 2023 strawberry moon will peak at 10:42 p.m. Central Daylight Time Saturday, according to NASA, and it will appear full from Friday evening to Monday morning.
Wichita-area residents might want to look for this full moon Sunday evening, as the National Weather Service forecasts potential thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday night.
Sunday night will be will be “partly cloudy” with a low around 63 degrees, the NWS forecasts.
The latest forecast shows Friday night will be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, and thunderstorms are also likely Saturday night, with a 60% chance of precipitation.
The moon will rise at 10 p.m. in Wichita Sunday, according to timeanddate.com.
When to see more full moons this year
Here’s when to see the rest of 2023’s full moons, from Space.com:
July 3: Buck supermoon
Aug. 1: Sturgeon supermoon
Aug. 30: Blue supermoon (appears biggest and brightest of the year)
Sept. 29: Harvest supermoon
Oct. 28: Hunter’s moon
Nov. 27: Beaver moon
Dec. 26: Cold moon
The Blue supermoon will be August’s second full moon, and Forbes says the best times to see it will be the evenings of Aug. 30 and Aug. 31.
These moons have multiple names, and many come from Indigenous cultures. The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
The Lake Afton Public Observatory is open for stargazing from 9 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and walk-ins are accepted.
Admission is $8 for those 14 years and older, $4 for youth ages 5 to 13 and $7 for adults 65 and older. Immediate family pricing is available for $20.
