June 2025 full moon: What is Strawberry Moon? Here's when and where to watch in US
With the start of the summer season, the world is all set to witness a full moon, also known as the Strawberry Moon, in the wee hours of June 11. What makes it even more special is that it will be the lowest full moon in nearly 20 years.
Caused by the 'major lunar standstill' event, astronomers have said that such a phenomenon will not occur again until 2043.
Unlike its name, this moon is not strawberry or pink in colour. The name "strawberry moon" is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, which includes Native American, Colonial American and European sources, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Historically, such names were used for full or new moon to track seasons. The full moon of June is the last of the spring season and the maiden one for summer.
The name 'Strawberry Moon' has majorly been used by the Native American Algonquian tribes living in the northeastern part of the US along with people in Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota. It marks the ripening of 'June-bearing' strawberries.
This year, stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere will get to witness the full Moon sitting very low in the southern sky. This means it will appear much larger than usual, according to the BBC.
The full Moon of June is expected to be exaggerated this time around due to the 'major lunar standstill' event that took place earlier this year.
During this time, the Moon reaches the extremes of its orbit around the Earth. It rises and sets at the most northerly and southerly positions on the horizon. Such a situation takes place every 18.6 years, while its effects are most visible at the time of full Moon.
The full Moon of June will be reaching its peak illumination at 3:44 am on June 11, according to the Almanac.
For the best experience, it is advisable to move to an open area that has minimal light source to get a clear view of the sky.
The first full Moon of summer is also called Blooming Moon, Green Corn Moon, Hoer Moon, Birth Moon, Egg Laying Moon and Hatching Moon among others.
The Strawberry Moon will reach its peak at 3:44 am on June 11.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Strawberry Moon lights up global skylines — These viral images are unreal
Skywatchers across the globe were treated to a rare and radiant lunar spectacle from Tuesday night into early Wednesday — the Strawberry Moon, which glowed with soft pink and orange hues and appeared unusually low in the sky. The moon's warm tones were especially visible in: The Strawberry Moon glowing orange as it passed the tip of the Empire State Building The moon rising behind Torre del Serpe in Otranto, Italy, casting a gentle light A full moon known as the Strawberry Moon rises behind the steeple of St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta, as seen from Sliema, Malta, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi This wasn't just another Strawberry Moon. It stood out for being exceptionally low-hanging in the sky. The full moon reached peak brightness at 3:44 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to the Farmer's Almanac The phenomenon was due to a major lunar standstill, a rare astronomical event that happens only once every 18.6 years People watch the full moon known as the Strawberry Moon rise, as seen from Hampstead Heath, in London, Britain, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra It occurs when the Moon's orbit reaches its maximum tilt relative to Earth This causes the Moon to rise and set at its most extreme points along the horizon As a result, the Moon appears lower in the sky than usual in the Northern Hemisphere A plane flies past the Strawberry Moon as it rises in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Last standstill: 2006 Next standstill: 2043 This year's Strawberry Moon marked the second year of the current lunar standstill cycle. A full moon known as the Strawberry Moon rises behind the steeple of St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta, as seen from Sliema, Malta, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi Despite its reddish tint, the 'Strawberry Moon' is not named for its color. The strawberry Moon rises in the sky behind the 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple at the ancient Acropolis hill, in Athens, on Tuesday, January 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) The seasonal ripening of wild strawberries in parts of the Northern Hemisphere Coined by Algonquin tribes of the northeastern US. Also used by Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples The strawberry moon rises behind a watermill at a field in Sotira village near Ayia Napa resort in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Strawberry moon: What makes it so special and rare?
Don't be fooled by its sweet name—tonight's Strawberry Moon may not be pink, but it's carrying a rare surprise. From June 10 through the morning of June 12, the full Moon will hang unusually low in the sky—the lowest full Moon we'll witness for nearly two decades, a spectacle that won't return until 2043. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What's so special about this year's Strawberry Moon? This full Moon will dip lower in the sky than any other this calendar year. And not just this year—it will be the lowest full Moon since 2006, thanks to a rare celestial alignment. According to NASA, the Moon will appear full for about three days, and its low placement near the horizon will create a dramatic visual illusion: the "Moon Illusion", where it seems much larger than usual. And while its name might conjure images of pinkish tones or juicy summer berries, the Strawberry Moon won't actually look red or pink. Any reddish hue you might see is due to the Moon's proximity to the horizon—light scattering through Earth's atmosphere, not strawberries. What is causing the Moon to be so low this time? This unusually low Moon is tied to a fascinating astronomical event called the major lunar standstill, or lunistice—a rare lunar cycle that unfolds every 18.6 years. As Dr. Jennifer Wexler, UK-based archaeologist and historian, explained to the BBC, the Moon's position on the horizon changes much more quickly than the Sun's. Over a single month, moonrise and moonset travel between their northernmost and southernmost points. But over many years, even those extreme points shift. 'At the peak of a major lunar standstill,' Wexler said, 'the northernmost and southernmost moonrises and moonsets are at their widest spread on the horizon.' This results in extreme highs and lows in the Moon's path through the sky. In 2025, we're at the height of this rare standstill period. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That's why this Strawberry Moon is dipping so low—and it won't happen again until 2043. Why is it called the 'Strawberry Moon'? The name "Strawberry Moon" originates from the Algonquin tribes of North America, who used it to mark the short harvesting season of strawberries. In Europe, it's sometimes known as the Rose Moon, again referencing seasonal changes rather than color. These traditional full Moon names—like February's Snow Moon or July's Buck Moon—are rooted in centuries of observation and culture. They reflect nature's rhythms rather than the Moon's actual appearance.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
China's mysterious ‘quasi moon' probe, first-ever image revealed
Source: Live Science Chinese officials have unveiled the first image of their highly secretive Tianwen 2 spacecraft just two weeks after its launch. The spacecraft is on a mission to collect samples from a quasi-moon, marking a significant step in China's space exploration efforts. Interestingly, Tianwen 2 bears striking similarities to a current NASA spacecraft, raising curiosity about the design and technology choices. This early glimpse offers a rare look into China's ambitious plans and advanced space capabilities as they push forward in their quest to explore and study celestial bodies beyond Earth. First image of 'quasi moon' captured by Tianwen spacecraft on May 29 Much of the Tianwen 2 mission's development and objectives have been shrouded in secrecy. The launch, scheduled for May 29, was not livestreamed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), which announced the successful lift-off about an hour after it happened. According to LiveScience, the Tianwen 2 probe was successfully launched into space onboard a Long March 3B rocket, which took off from the Xichang spaceport in southwestern China at around 1:31 a.m. local time. In July 2026, the Tianwen 2 spacecraft will approach Kamo'oalewa , a small asteroid about the size of a Ferris wheel, and attempt to land and collect samples. Kamo'oalewa, meaning 'oscillating celestial object' in Hawaiian, is a quasi-satellite that orbits the Sun alongside Earth but isn't gravitationally tied to our planet — it will eventually drift away. On Friday, June 6, CNSA released the first picture of one of the probe's 10-sided solar panels extending out into the void of space. The release also included a statement revealing that the probe is functioning as planned and is already around 1.9 million miles (3 million kilometers) from Earth — about eight times farther away than the Moon. Know about the quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa, measuring between 40 and 100 meters wide, maintains a distance of at least 4.6 million kilometres from Earth. This satellite completes a circuit around our planet roughly every 45 years. Scientists think that Kamo'oalewa originated from the Moon, potentially ejected into space after a meteor impact millions of years ago, and now orbits the Sun in tandem with Earth. Earth has six other quasi-moons, which all orbit the Sun alongside our planet but are not permanently bound to us. These space rocks are usually referred to as 'minimoons' — a term typically reserved for objects that temporarily orbit our planet at much closer distances for shorter periods, usually less than a year. Astronomers believe there are numerous other quasi-moons and minimoons around Earth yet to be discovered. Research also suggests Venus might have similar co-orbitals, potentially posing a future threat to Earth if gravitational forces pull them our way. Also read: 100-million-year-old dinosaur eggs recovered in Jurassic America
