Strawberry Moon⁤ to ⁣Light up June Skies

⁣ Updated June 03, 2025
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Skywatchers are in for a treat as the full Strawberry Moon, June’s full moon, approaches. This year,the Strawberry Moon will be the lowest full moon of the ⁢year for those north of the equator,and also one of the most distant from the⁤ sun,offering‍ a unique‍ celestial spectacle.

The moon reaches⁣ its full phase‍ at 3:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June ⁣11. ⁣However,the best viewing opportunity will be⁢ Tuesday evening,June 10,as the moon⁤ rises at dusk. Observers‍ can also spot Antares, a shining star in⁣ the scorpius constellation, to the upper right of the moon.

The ⁣Strawberry Moon earns its name from the wild strawberries that ripen during June in ‍the Northern Hemisphere, according to Timeanddate.com. Other names used by Native American tribes include Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn moon, Hot Moon, and Blooming Moon. Additional names include Flower Moon, Planting Moon, and Mead Moon.

The low position of June’s full moon is due to its opposition to the sun.Because the summer solstice ⁢occurs around June 20 or 21, when the sun is at its highest, the corresponding full moon appears at its lowest. This means the Strawberry Moon will trace a low arc across the ⁢southern sky, rising in the southeast at dusk and setting in the southwest at dawn.

This Strawberry Moon is also one of⁣ the year’s farthest from the sun because Earth’s orbit is elliptical.The farthest point in Earth’s orbit, ⁣known as aphelion, occurs around July⁢ 3. With the full moon‍ opposite the sun, June’s ‍full moon will be approximately 94,600 miles (152,200 kilometers) from the sun.

What’s next

Mark yoru calendars for future celestial events, and continue to observe the night sky for ongoing ⁤astronomical phenomena.