Get Outside and Spot June's Strawberry Moon This Week
Not all full moons are created equal, and a great example of this is June's full moon, which you can check out this week. Also known as the strawberry moon, June's full moon will be one of the more interesting full moons of the year. It's a mini-moon, which means the moon is as far away from the Earth as its orbit will allow. It's also part of a major lunar standstill, which will give the moon a unique trajectory across the sky that only occurs every 18.6 years.
Your best chance to see the strawberry moon will be early on June 11, with the fullest possible moon not visible until 3:46 a.m. according to The Farmer's Almanac. It'll be only slightly less full on both June 10 and June 12.
Since it is a mini-moon, it'll also appear to be smaller and dimmer than a normal full moon. Anyone who caught one of four supermoons in 2024 will be able to spot the stark contrast between a supermoon and a mini-moon. During a supermoon, the moon is as close to the Earth as its orbit allows, a phenomenon known as perigee.
For a mini-moon, the moon is as far away from Earth as it can get, a phenomenon called apogee. It's a little less exciting than a supermoon, but for context, it's neat to know how dim and small the moon can get compared to how big and bright it can get during a supermoon.
The major lunar standstill
The strawberry moon is part of what's called a major lunar standstill. This occurs once every 18.6 years when the moon's orbit aligns just right with the Earth's tilt. As most astronomers can tell you, the moon rises and sets from different points of the horizon based on the time of year, the Earth's tilt, and the moon's orbit.
In short, the path the moon is taking through the sky is as long as it's going to get. This phenomenon isn't specific to June 2025. In fact, people will be able to view this phenomenon for most of the year. However, once it's gone, it'll be 18.6 years before it shows up again.
Another interesting tidbit about major lunar standstills is that the moon will be rising and setting on parts of the horizon where the sun will never go. This was noted by researchers at English Heritage, who are currently studying the notion that Stonehenge lines up with this once-in-a-generation event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
44 minutes ago
- New York Post
June's Strawberry Moon ushers in best time of year to view our celestial neighbor
Known as the Strawberry Moon, the last full Moon of spring rises early Wednesday, beginning the best time of year to enjoy our celestial neighbor. Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell, a postdoctoral fellow at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, said this is the first Moon to appear this low on the horizon in about a year. June's full Moon is the last of astronomical spring, even though if you ask a meteorologist, summer is already in full swing. 'The Moon going across the night sky is always going to be a little lower because, in the summertime into the summer, the Sun goes higher and higher in the sky just because of our orbit. And so the Moon, being completely opposite of that, gets lower and lower,' she said. The Strawberry Moon gets its name from the time when the berry is ready for picking, but it also corresponds with the slight hue as the Moon is lower in the sky. 'When it spends more of that time in that lower portion of the sky, you're looking through more of Earth's atmosphere, which makes these moons generally look redder and more golden. And also, they appear bigger,' Richey-Yowell said. 'The atmosphere actually bends some of the light. And so while there's not really any astronomical significance to moons in the summer, we do actually get cooler, bigger, prettier moons in the summer.' 3 People posing in front of the 'Strawberry Moon over the New York City skyline on June 21, 2024. Photo byFor some in the northern tier and Southeast, the Strawberry Moon may be especially colorful this year. Saharan dust arriving to Florida and crawling up the Southeast coast can also scatter light in a way that creates vibrant sunrises and sunsets, as well as a tint to the Moon. In the North, wildfire smoke from Canada has reduced air quality but also had the same effect on the sky color. 3 The next Strawberry Moon will rise on Wednesday. Getty Images How to photograph the Strawberry Moon Richey-Yowell said the best time to enjoy the Moon throughout the summer is right after sunset, when the Moon is peeking up over the horizon. During this time, the Moon can appear to have a reddish tint. For the Strawberry Moon on Wednesday, it will be at its biggest and brightest after midnight (Pacific time) and after 3 a.m. (Eastern time). 3 The 2024 Strawberry Moon seen over the Statue of Liberty. Photo by'If you're a night person, that would be the time to go up and see it,' she said. With an earlier time of day to see the Moon in late spring and this summer, it's a good chance to practice photographing our only satellite. If you plan to use a smartphone or camera, Richey-Yowell recommends finding something to stabilize your device. 'Turning down the saturation on your phone is typically what I do. The Moon's actually just really good for holding up to a telescope as well,' she said. 'They also make some really nice like phone holders that you can attach to your own personal telescope.' The Strawberry Moon will make good practice for next month. The full Buck Moon appears at its fullest just after 4 p.m. ET on July 11, which will make for a spectacular sunset and Moon.
CNET
4 hours ago
- CNET
Get Outside and Spot June's Strawberry Moon This Week
Not all full moons are created equal, and a great example of this is June's full moon, which you can check out this week. Also known as the strawberry moon, June's full moon will be one of the more interesting full moons of the year. It's a mini-moon, which means the moon is as far away from the Earth as its orbit will allow. It's also part of a major lunar standstill, which will give the moon a unique trajectory across the sky that only occurs every 18.6 years. Your best chance to see the strawberry moon will be early on June 11, with the fullest possible moon not visible until 3:46 a.m. according to The Farmer's Almanac. It'll be only slightly less full on both June 10 and June 12. Since it is a mini-moon, it'll also appear to be smaller and dimmer than a normal full moon. Anyone who caught one of four supermoons in 2024 will be able to spot the stark contrast between a supermoon and a mini-moon. During a supermoon, the moon is as close to the Earth as its orbit allows, a phenomenon known as perigee. For a mini-moon, the moon is as far away from Earth as it can get, a phenomenon called apogee. It's a little less exciting than a supermoon, but for context, it's neat to know how dim and small the moon can get compared to how big and bright it can get during a supermoon. The major lunar standstill The strawberry moon is part of what's called a major lunar standstill. This occurs once every 18.6 years when the moon's orbit aligns just right with the Earth's tilt. As most astronomers can tell you, the moon rises and sets from different points of the horizon based on the time of year, the Earth's tilt, and the moon's orbit. In short, the path the moon is taking through the sky is as long as it's going to get. This phenomenon isn't specific to June 2025. In fact, people will be able to view this phenomenon for most of the year. However, once it's gone, it'll be 18.6 years before it shows up again. Another interesting tidbit about major lunar standstills is that the moon will be rising and setting on parts of the horizon where the sun will never go. This was noted by researchers at English Heritage, who are currently studying the notion that Stonehenge lines up with this once-in-a-generation event.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Strawberry Moon 2025: When to see June's full moon in NY
June marks the first month of summer and with it comes a fittingly fruit-themed full moon — the Strawberry Moon. While the Strawberry Moon isn't typically red in nature, it could be this year as it's expected to be the lowest full moon in almost 20 years and could be affected by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Here's what to know about June's full moon. The full Strawberry Moon will make its appearance on Wednesday, June 11, and will reach peak illumination at 3:44 a.m. EDT, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. June's full moon is called the Strawberry Moon as many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The Strawberry Moon is also known as the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The strawberry moon is the most colorful of the year because it takes a low, shallow path across the sky, said Bob Bonadurer, director of the Milwaukee Public Museum's planetarium, according to reporting by USA TODAY. The June full moon's arc across the sky means moonlight must travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere, which can give it a colorful tint. Smoke in the atmosphere from Canadian wildfires could also act to create a colorful moon. According to EarthSky, the moon will the lowest in the sky that it's been since 2006, USA TODAY reported. "That's because we're in the midst of a major lunar standstill," which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," noted EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around – mostly due to the pull of the sun – every 18.6 years." This year's major lunar standstill culminated in January 2025. And we're still close enough to it that the standstill is affecting the path of this June full moon, EarthSky said. Celestial events: When to see 2025's full moons, total lunar eclipse and supermoons According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Rochester area will happen by roughly 8:53 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 and will set at 4:28 a.m. Wednesday. Moonrise for the White Plains area will happen by roughly 8:27 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 and will set at 4:21 a.m. Wednesday, the Old Farmer's Almanac says. While there's a chance for showers and thunderstorms for both the Rochester and White Plains areas earlier in the day Tuesday, skies should clear up by nightfall in Rochester, according to the National Weather Service. In the lower Hudson Valley, there's a slight chance of showers before 8 p.m. and skies may be a bit cloudy the rest of the night. Rain, rain and more rain: Thought May felt wetter than usual? You were right The next full moon is the Buck Moon, which occurs on July 10. Moonrise in the Rochester area is roughly 9:18 p.m. and around 8:54 p.m. in the Westchester area. A few additional celestial events are taking place this month. Here's when you should take a look at the night sky to try and catch a glimpse: While it won't be as bright as it was in early May, you'll be able to see Mars for a couple hours after dark all month long, according to NASA. The Milky Way — a faint, cloud-like band that arches southwardly across the sky — will be visible all night each night in June, NASA says, and will continue through the month of August. For the best viewing conditions of the celestial spectacle, travel away from bright city lights and find a nice, dark place to sky gaze. At the end of the month, you may be able to see Mercury for several nights if you have a clear view of the western horizon, according to NASA. Between June 21-30, look low in the sky around 30-45 minutes after sunset to try and catch a glimpse of the planet. Contributing: USA TODAY Emily Barnes on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Strawberry Moon 2025: When to see June's full moon in NY
