Local astronomy buffs have an opportunity to see a "strawberry moon" this evening, with the planet Saturn providing a cosmic sideshow.
Astronomer Michael Allen with Washington State University's Department of Physics and Astronomy said the first full moon of the summer should take on a reddish tint and appear unnaturally large tonight, weather permitting.
"When low on the horizon, the moon appears redder than what we typically see," Allen said.
Objects in the foreground, such as hills, buildings and trees, also will create an optical illusion that makes "la bella luna" seem larger than normal. According to a WSU news release, this phenomenon "has enthralled and mystified onlookers for thousands of years."
"It's a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger than it really is," Allen said. "A low moon is no larger than a high moon."
Moonrise will occur at 8:24 p.m. and be at its fullest by 9:53 p.m., he said.
The planet Saturn will be part of the show as well. It will appear as a bright, starlike object just to the south of the full moon. This will be the planet's biggest and brightest display of the year.
If you miss the show, Allen said, the nearly-full moon could cast a strawberry glow again Thursday night, with Saturn shimmering nearby.
As is often the case, however, the weather may not cooperate with this astronomical opportunity. The National Weather Service said an approaching low-pressure system could lead to mostly cloudy skies across much of the region tonight and Thursday evening.
