Enthusiasts of the sky will be alert to an impending lunar event. The Strawberry Moon is scheduled to appear in June. Considered the last full moon of spring or the first full moon of summer, the Strawberry Moon is distinguished by its distinctive amber hues and, at certain glances, rosy radiance. This is the sixth of 2025’s twelve full moons. To put it briefly, you won’t want to miss it.
On rare occasions, the Strawberry Moon may coincide with the summer solstice. This was the situation in 2016, when NASA astronaut Jeff Williams photographed the full moon’s “spectacular rise” from the ISS.
The Statue of Liberty landmark in New York City was illuminated by the Strawberry Moon in 2023, which led to some amazing early-morning photographs.
Here’s when and how to view the 2025 celestial event:
What exactly is the Strawberry Moon and how did it get its name?
Strawberry Moon gets its name from the fact that, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanack, strawberries are harvested in June. Moon names are frequently derived from the season; for example, May’s Flower Moon alludes to the profusion of blossoms in the spring.
Western Washington University claims that a number of Indigenous groups adopted the Strawberry Moon moniker.
Other Native American tribes have named the lunar spectacular the Hatching Moon or Birth Moon to honour new life, and the Hot Moon and Blooming Moon to honour the spring season.
Since June is usually the first honey harvest of the year, Europeans outside of North America have previously called it the Rose Moon or even the Honey Moon.
When can you see the 2025 Strawberry Moon?
The greatest time to see the Strawberry Moon is when it rises on June 10 at sunset in the Southeast of the United States, when the moon throws a warm, amber tint across the sky. The peak of the moon is predicted to occur on June 11 at 3:44 A.M. ET.
Depending on where you are, the moon rises at different times. The ideal time to see the lunar spectacle, for instance, is approximately 8:00 p.m. in Los Angeles and 8:30 p.m. in New York.
On June 10 or 11, the red supergiant star Antares will be visible in the night sky. The moon will occult, or block, Antares, allowing people in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific to observe it.
The brightest star in the Scorpius constellation, Antares, will occult the moon during twilight for people in the western South Pacific and later in the evening, at approximately 7:00 p.m. local time, for those in the eastern half of the region.
What is the best way to witness the 2025 Strawberry Moon?
The moon will be most visible from an elevated location and in areas free of light pollution. A spot with an unhindered view of the eastern horizon is one of the best places.
From the Northern Hemisphere, the Strawberry Moon in June is also the full moon with the lowest hanging position of the year. Because of the significant lunar standstill, EarthSky reports that this Strawberry Moon is the lowest full moon since 2006. The moonrise and moonset at the farthest north and south are caused by this event, which happens every 18.6 years.
Best practices for viewing the moon with a bare eye is to give yourself “plenty of time for your eyes to adjust and look carefully,” according to NASA.
However, binoculars or a small telescope can be used to view the full moon with even more precision. This allows viewers to see the moon’s mountain ridges and areas where it has been marked by impacts from other celestial objects, among other features.
