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June’s full “Strawberry Moon” rising over a prairie pond in southern Alberta, Canada.(Image credit: Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)
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This coming Monday, June 29, the Strawberry Moon, which is June’s full moon, will ascend over North America and Europe. At this time, it will be the year’s lowest-hanging and one of its smallest full moons.
The lunar event will officially reach its peak illumination at 7:56 p.m. EDT on June 29. While it will appear nearly full and brilliantly lit on both Sunday, June 28, and Tuesday, June 30, the optimal moment to witness it will be when it emerges on the southeastern horizon at dusk on Monday. During this time, it will be observable near the horizon, remaining unusually low in the sky for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Full moons occurring near the summer solstice, which took place on June 21 this year, traverse a lower trajectory across the southern sky. This phenomenon occurs because the solstice positions the sun at its most northerly point on the ecliptic (the sun’s apparent path through the sky during the day), causing the full moon around this time to appear low in the southern celestial sphere. Given that a full moon, by definition, is diametrically opposed to the sun in Earth’s sky, its path mirrors that of the sun from roughly six months prior.
Conversely, viewers in the Southern Hemisphere will witness an opposing effect, with the Strawberry Moon ascending high overhead, becoming the year’s highest-rising full moon.
The full moon is visible to everyone without the need for specialized equipment. However, a good backyard telescope or a pair of binoculars can enhance your view of lunar features like craters and mountains. For those with capable cameras, here is a guide on how to capture the best moon photographs.
A low-hanging ‘micromoon’
In 2026, June’s full moon will be the second-smallest full moon, appearing when the moon is 252,442 miles (406,267 kilometers) from our planet — merely 63 miles (102 km) closer than the year’s most distant full moon, the Blue Moon of May 31, which was 252,505 miles (406,369 km) away. According to Time and date.com, this classification makes it a micromoon, minimoon, or apogee moon.
The moniker “Strawberry Moon” originates from Native American traditions, linked to the seasonal harvesting of strawberries and other ripe fruits. As reported by Almanac, various tribes assigned other names reflecting summer harvests, including the Berries Ripen Moon, Blooming Moon, Green Corn Moon, Hoer Moon, Birth Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Hatching Moon. European appellations include the Honey Moon and Mead Moon.
As the Strawberry Moon graces the summer heavens, observe the yellowish, brilliant star situated to its upper right. This is Antares, a red supergiant star and the most luminous in the constellation Scorpius.
Following the Strawberry Moon, the subsequent full moon—referred to as the Buck Moon—is scheduled to appear on July 29, paving the way for both a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse in August.
How knowledgeable are you about the moon? Assess your lunar expertise with our moon quiz!
Sourse: www.livescience.com
