When is the full moon in June? Strawberry moon in Indiana will be a sweet sight
The month of June is going to be a sweet feast for Indiana skywatchers. Not only can Hoosiers witness the Strawberry Moon but also the Milky Way, "the bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August.
Here are some quick facts about the Strawberry Moon that skywatchers can snack on as it soars across the heavens.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, is when the sweet Strawberry Moon shines in the night sky. The moon's phases in June are:
🌓 First Quarter: June 3.
🌕 Full Moon: June 11.
🌗 Last Quarter: June 18.
🌑 New Moon: June 25.
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 10:09 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 1:38 a.m. before setting at 6:01 a.m. Thursday.
You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Skies around Indianapolis are predicted to be mostly clear Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 60, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service.
Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States.
Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon.
The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Beverly Shores, near Gary, is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing.
You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International.
According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south."
If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025:
June 16, 17 – Mars & Regulus – Mars passes closer to the bright bluish-white star Regulus, known as the "heart" of the lion constellation, Leo. They will appear about as far apart as the width of the full moon, and should be easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope.
June 19 – Moon & Saturn – The third-quarter moon appears right next to Saturn on Thursday morning in the hours before dawn, according to NASA. They rise in the east together at around 1:30 a.m.
June 20 – June Solstice – The summer solstice is on June 20 in the northern hemisphere, tilting its maximum toward the Sun. This means the Sun will travel its longest, highest arc across the sky all year, writes NASA, resulting in the longest period of daylight for those north of the equator.
June 21-30 – Mercury becomes visible – For those with a clear view to the western horizon, Mercury becomes visible for a brief period each evening at the end of June. Look for it to appear low in the sky starting 30 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets.
June 22 – Moon & Venus – Venus rises this morning next to a slender and elegant crescent moon. Look for them in the east between about 3 a.m. and sunrise.
All month – Mars: The Red Planet can be observed for a couple of hours after dark all month. It is noticeably dimmer than it appeared in early May, as Earth speeds away in its orbit, putting greater distance between the two worlds.
All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south.
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play
Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play
Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play
for iPhone | Google Play
The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025.
When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Full moon June 2025: Seeing the Strawberry Moon, Milky Way in Indiana
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