Full Moon on the Rise

Happy Friday and Happy Summer

I decided that on Fridays I will write a blog post about anything happening on Long Island over the weekend that somehow relates to either aviation, science, technology or education. This week’s event is one of my favorite kinds, free and natural! It’s the full solstice strawberry moon.

I’ve always loved a good sunset over the water, who doesn’t? Growing up and living for so many years on this beautiful island, I have seen many amazing beach sunsets and even a few spectacular sunrises. However, until recently I had never actually seen a moon rise up from the horizon over the water.

I hadn’t realized or even thought about it, until I was invited to a “Full Moon Paddle” with my paddleboarding tribe, Moku Loa. We were starting later than usual to make sure we were out there for prime moonrise time and I really wasn’t thinking it would be much more than a pretty night time paddle with a full moon in the sky. I was wrong!

The night started as it usually does, with a casual paddle through the canals in Oakdale, then out onto the Connetquot River near the Arboretum. We hung out on our boards listening to music and talking until the sun went down. Then, we began to head down the river towards the bay. As we neared the bay, the other paddlers slowed down and just started to float around waiting. I couldn’t see the moon yet and was getting kind of antsy. Everyone was saying “hang on, it’s coming soon, it’s almost here” and then finally someone yelled out “there it is, I see it, I see it.”

I looked to where they were pointing and all I saw was a little glowing light out across the horizon. Is that it? How could I have lived nearly my entire life on an island and never see the moon rise over the water? Maybe I had and just didn’t remember.

Suddenly I saw what everyone else seemed to know was coming. The moon edged its way over the horizon, illuminating the water with its brilliance. Bit by bit the giant glowing rock revealed itself in its shining glory! I was standing in awe upon the water that was bathed in the light of the moon as it hung huge over my head. I had definitely never seen this before.

I tell you this story because we will all have a chance to experience something like this on Friday night. This Friday night, June 21, 2024, will be the full strawberry solstice moon. This full moon will hang lower in the sky due to the summer solstice and the fact that it’s also a major lunar standstill this year, which means that the moon will rise, hang, and set five degrees lower in the sky than it does in the winter.

As soon as I heard this, I got out my board and planned my paddle, you should too! There are so many awesome waterfront locations to watch from, but if you can, I would get right out there on the water. There’s no better way to watch. So, get out on that water – see ya there!