Watch This Stunning Time-Lapse Strawberry Moon Rise Over Lake Michigan
If you caught the Strawberry Moon over Illinois last night, you know it didn't quite live up to the dreamy pink glow we all imagined. Lucky for us, someone captured the kind of moonrise we wished we saw, and it's absolutely stunning.
The Moon We Wished We Saw
If you looked up last night to see a glowing pink orb rising over Rockford, you weren't alone. The June full moon, nicknamed the Strawberry Moon, has a way of sparking big expectations. But between cloud cover, tree lines, and that harsh reality called "light pollution," a lot of us were left feeling a little... underwhelmed.
This Time-Lapse Over Lake Michigan? Unreal
Thankfully, the folks at Destination Door County captured a time-lapse that delivers everything we hoped for. The moonrise over Lake Michigan is slow, dramatic, and somehow completely calming (maybe that's the music). This is one of those "just watch it on loop for 5 minutes" kind of videos, and we've embedded it below for your viewing pleasure.
So, What Even Is a Strawberry Moon?
Contrary to what Instagram filters might have us believe, the name has nothing to do with color. Native American tribes used the term to mark the ripening of wild strawberries in June. It's typically the last full moon of spring, or the first of summer, and it's known to mess with your sleep. Yes, full moons can boost light exposure at night and disrupt your REM cycle. (So if you were tossing and turning, now you know.)
Worth Staying Up For
Even if the real-life version didn't live up to the hype, this video absolutely does. Take a moment. Hit play. Let your screen be your window to the moon we should've seen.