A rare Strawberry Moon coincides with the summer solstice

The moon we’ll see in tonight’s sky over Menlo Park is a Strawberry Moon, named by the Algonquin Indians when the full moon falls on the summer solstice. Last time this occurred was 1967 (or 70 years ago, depending sources).

Emails InMenlo weather watcher Bill Russ: “Some say this is ‘the longest day of the year’. What they mean is it is the day with the earliest sunrise, 5:47 am, and latest sunset, 8:32 pm. That is 14 hours and 45 minutes of daylight.

“It is likely we have seen the last of rain for the rain calendar year that ends June 30. My total is 20.65″. That compares to 18.10″ for rain year 14′-15′ and 9.55″ for 13′-14′. That was the year that tipped us into drought conditions.

The 20.65″ trails San Francisco with 23.06″ but tops the SF Airport with 17.32″ and San Jose 14.31”. My backyard is grateful for all that fell (including Friday’s surprise sprinkle!)

Photo courtesy NASA/Goddard/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter