Skywatchers around the world are in for a luminous treat next week as the Strawberry Moon, the last full moon of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring season, reaches its peak on 11 June at 3:44 AM ET (3:44 PM PHT). But the best time to catch it will be just after sunset on 10 June, when the moon rises in the southeastern sky with a golden-amber glow.
The Strawberry Moon, while not pink or red in color, is known for casting a warm hue as it hangs low on the horizon. This appearance has earned it comparisons to ripe fruit or summer sunsets. But the name itself actually has agricultural roots — according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it comes from Native American traditions, particularly among the Algonquian, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, who associated June’s full moon with the ripening of strawberries and the harvest that follows.
According to National Geographic, European cultures have historically called June’s full moon the “Mead Moon,” “Honey Moon,” or “Rose Moon,” in reference to honey harvesting and blossoming flora. These romantic connotations may also be linked to the traditional peak of wedding season in June.
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon does not turn pink. Its amber color is the result of its low position in the sky during summer months, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. When the moon is low, its light travels through more of Earth’s atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and allowing more reds and oranges to reach the eye.
This year's Strawberry Moon also coincides with a stunning astronomical event: the occultation of Antares, a red supergiant and the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. Observers in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the South Pacific will be able to witness the moon passing in front of Antares, temporarily blocking it from view. According to Live Science, this rare lunar event will occur just after dusk or around 7:00 PM local time, depending on your location [Carter, Live Science, 2024].
Antares is often nicknamed the “heart of the scorpion,” and its reddish hue may even echo the warm tones of the Strawberry Moon itself — a visual pairing that stargazers won’t want to miss.
The Strawberry Moon also holds astronomical significance as one of the lowest full moons of the year. This is due to its timing near the summer solstice, when the sun is highest in the sky and the full moon appears directly opposite — thus, lowest — according to Smithsonian Magazine and Western Washington University. Its low arc across the sky can make the moon appear larger, an optical illusion known as the “moon illusion”.
Earth is also nearing aphelion, the farthest point in its elliptical orbit around the sun, which it will reach on 3 July. This makes the Strawberry Moon one of the farthest full moons from Earth’s solar partner this year [Live Science, 2024].
The Strawberry Moon will be visible across much of the world, but timing your view will depend on your location. In the United States, moonrise begins around 8:30 PM in New York and 8:00 PM in Los Angeles. In the Philippines, expect the moon to rise just after 6:00 PM, offering a breathtaking view just after sunset.