honey moon
The June full moon from 2011: known as the honey moon. Kevin Burkett

A full moon is to appear on Friday 13<sup>th in June for the first time in almost 100 years, and the rare celestial event will be broadcast live online.

The full 'Honey Moon' – the June full moon – has not fallen on a Friday 13<sup>th since 1919 and the next one will not take place until 2098.

The event will be broadcast live online from Slooh.com, with expert commentary from astronomer Bob Berman at 6.30pm PDT (2.30am GMT).

It will be streamed live for two hours from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands and the Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile.

During the Honey Moon, the moon appears to have a honey or champagne colour because it is low on the horizon, so light has to travel further to reach Earth.

Observers are also invited to take pictures and follow updates using the hashtag #Sloohhoneymoon.

The June full moon is dubbed the Honey Moon because bee hives are full of honey at this time of year. Traditionally the honey would have been made into mead, which was drunk after weddings held on Summer Solstice on 21 June, Veraveg.org reports.

It also marks the moon being at its lowest point in the sky for a full moon of the year, appearing just 12 degrees above the horizon.

Speaking to Universe Today, Berman said: "Is this Full Moon of June the true origin of the word honeymoon, since it is amber, and since weddings were traditionally held this month? That phrase dates back nearly half a millennium to 1552, but one thing has changed: weddings have shifted, and are now most often held in August or September.

"The idea back then was that a marriage is like the phases of the Moon, with the Full Moon being analogous to a wedding. Meaning, it's the happiest and 'brightest' time in a relationship."

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