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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Strawberry Moon 2025: June's full moon to light up the sky this month- know date, time, and the science behind the name
Source: Time and Date As summer unfolds, the night skies of the Northern Hemisphere are poised to showcase one of the year's most captivating celestial events—the full Strawberry Moon. Far more than a poetic name, it reflects a rare blend of seasonal timing, orbital mechanics, and cultural tradition. Appearing in mid-June, this full moon is not only the last of spring but also the lowest-hanging of the year. Its golden glow and low trajectory create a visually striking phenomenon, while its historical significance connects us to ancient rhythms of nature and harvest. For skywatchers, the Strawberry Moon offers both beauty and meaning. June's full moon is also known as the 'Strawberry Moon' The "Strawberry Moon" is named after Native American Indian tribes, specifically the Algonquin, who based seasonal events around the lunar cycle. Wild strawberries start to ripen in June over much of the Northern Hemisphere, and the sighting of this full moon indicated harvesting time. Other cultures have also provided this moon with descriptive names drawn from their own observations of nature and agricultural cycles. The June moon has been called the Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn Moon, Hot Moon, and Blooming Moon by Native Americans each for a different aspect of the season's abundance. In English folklore, it was called the Flower Moon, Planting Moon, or Mead Moon, whereas Celtic cultures provided poetic names like the Horse Moon, Dyan Moon, and Rose Moon. They are not random. They signify the ancient history of human interaction with the Earth's natural cycles, which is how individuals throughout time and history have utilized the sky to monitor the cycle of seasons and life. Strawberry Moon 2025: Date and time Although the moon will technically be at full phase at 3:45 am EDT on Wednesday, June 11 , the best time to view it is actually going to be last night—Tuesday, June 10. As the sun sets, the full moon will rise softly over the eastern horizon, providing a lovely and peaceful sight for those who gaze up. To the show, add the light of Antares, a white-hot red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpius. Some 550 light-years from Earth, Antares glows above and to the right of the rising moon. The contrast between the soft golden color of the moon and the red hot color of Antares presents a striking cosmic picture. Science behind the 'Strawberry Moon's low rise' The full moon this month is the lowest full moon of 2025. As the concluding full moon for spring, the Strawberry Moon tends to look especially low in the northern horizon when observed from north of the equator. This is not an optical illusion but the very consequence of astronomical mechanics. A full moon always happens when the moon is exactly opposite the sun. As the summer solstice approaches, which falls this year on June 20 evening in most parts of the world, the sun is at its highest position in the sky. Since the moon and sun lie on opposite sides of Earth at full moon, the full moon then occupies the lowest arc across the sky. Therefore, the June full moon rises in the southeastern part of the sky at sunset, rides low along the southern horizon through the night, and ultimately sets in the southwest at sunrise. This low altitude produces a stunning visual effect. As the moon rides close to the horizon, atmospheric conditions can make it appear larger and imbue it with a warm orange or golden color. This effect, referred to as the moon illusion, lends the Strawberry Moon an almost theatrical quality. How Earth's journey around the sun affects the full moon Besides its low arc, the full moon this month is also one of the sunniest throughout the whole year. The distance is attributed to the elliptical path that Earth travels around the sun. Earth does not orbit in a complete circle but in a faint oval form, so there are periods where Earth is nearer to the sun (perihelion) and others where it is further away (aphelion). Aphelion falls on July 3 this year, and since a full moon lies directly opposite the sun, June's full moon is also at its farthest position from our star. The moon will be about 94,600 miles (152,200 kilometers) away from the sun at this time. Although it will not make much of a visual impact to the naked eye, it is a significant factor that highlights the special geometry of this full moon. What does Strawberry Moon symbolises The Strawberry Moon is not merely a full moon but an alignment of astronomy, atmosphere, and tradition. With its low trajectory, significant distance from the sun, and deep cultural meaning, this moon offers a unique viewing experience for anyone willing to look up and take it in. Whether you're in a bustling city or a quiet countryside, the moon's slow rise at dusk on June 10 promises to be a moment of beauty and reflection, reminding us of the wonder embedded in the natural world. So when darkness approaches and the southeastern horizon starts to shine, take a moment to stop. Allow the low-hanging Strawberry Moon to bond you with hundreds of years' worth of sky gazers who once stood awestruck beneath the same moonlight. Strawberry Moon 2025: Related FAQs What is the Strawberry Moon? The Strawberry Moon is the traditional name for June's full moon, derived from Native American tribes like the Algonquin. It marked the time for gathering ripening wild strawberries and reflects the deep relationship between lunar cycles and seasonal harvests. When can I see the Strawberry Moon in 2025? The moon will reach full phase at 3:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 11. However, the best time to view it will be the evening of Tuesday, June 10, just after sunset, when it rises in the southeastern sky. Why is it called the lowest full moon of the year? Because it appears opposite the sun near the summer solstice—when the sun is at its highest—the June full moon travels a very low path across the sky, making it the lowest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Does the Strawberry Moon actually look red or pink? Not always. The name refers to seasonal timing, not color. However, due to its low position near the horizon, the moon can appear golden or slightly orange because of atmospheric scattering—an effect known as the 'moon illusion.' Can I see any other celestial features during the Strawberry Moon? Yes! As the moon rises, look to its upper right to spot Antares, a red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpius. Its red hue and proximity to the moon create a striking celestial pairing. Also Read | NASA warns! 120-foot asteroid 2025 KX8 to make close approach to Earth on June 4; here's what to expect
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Forbes
Tech With Respect: AI And Indigenous Community Power
Two Teenage Native American Indian Navajo Sister in Traditional Clothing Enjoying the Vast Desert ... More and Red Rock Landscape in the Famous Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley Arizona at Dawn Artificial Intelligence is everywhere—from search engines and supply chains to climate forecasts and school curriculums. But amid the buzz about what AI can do for us, an equally important question often gets overlooked: what is it doing to us, particularly those usually left out from mainstream design and decision-making processes, such as Indigenous communities? The answer is complex. AI carries tremendous potential to support Indigenous self-determination, language preservation, and climate stewardship. But it also risks deepening long-standing patterns of erasure, exploitation, and exclusion — unless it is carefully aligned with the values, rights, and realities of Indigenous peoples. One framework that helps unpack these dynamics is the ABCD of silent AI issues: agency decay, bond erosion, climate conundrum, and divided society. These issues aren't always visible in headlines or policy briefs — but they shape how AI shows up in everyday life. And for communities historically sidelined in technological revolutions, these risks can carry outsized consequences. Who controls the narrative when technology speaks for us? As AI systems become more embedded in daily decision-making, there's a growing concern that personal and collective autonomy may erode — especially for groups with little say in how those systems are trained or deployed. When AI is built on biased or incomplete data, it often defaults to dominant worldviews, misrepresenting or ignoring others altogether. This isn't just a design flaw. It's a continuation of colonial patterns in a new digital form. Yet some efforts flip the script. The Wasigen Kisawatsuin platform, for example, is being designed to recognize harmful or biased language about Indigenous peoples, flag it, and offer respectful alternatives. The tool serves as a digital ally to reduce emotional labor and as a mechanism to ensure Indigenous knowledge and experiences are not overwritten by default AI norms. Can AI protect culture, or will it strip it of meaning? Cultural appropriation has found new fuel in generative AI. Without guardrails, these systems scrape, remix, and reproduce sacred imagery, ceremonial language, and ancestral designs — usually without consent or context. This commodification not only disrespects Indigenous cultures but also risks severing the very bonds that sustain them. Some organizations are working to turn that around. Natives Rising supports digital upskilling and AI literacy so that Indigenous communities can use the tools and shape them. This includes exploring AI's role in emotional wellness and creating community-aligned content that strengthens identity and intergenerational connection rather than diluting it. How can AI serve the planet without sacrificing the communities that protect it? The environmental cost of AI is staggering. Data centers require immense electricity and water — resources often sourced from or near Indigenous lands. Ironically, the very populations stewarding biodiversity hotspots are those most at risk from the tech industry's growing footprint. A better path is possible. The First Languages AI Reality Initiative uses AI to revitalize endangered Indigenous languages while advocating for carbon-neutral infrastructure. By powering language preservation tools with renewable energy, the initiative models how AI can be deployed in ways that honor both people and planet. This kind of alignment isn't just ethical — it's strategic. Indigenous communities have centuries of ecological knowledge and a track record of protecting 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity. A climate-smart AI future must include — not displace — these contributions. Will AI bridge or widen the digital divide? Access to AI isn't just about software but also power, infrastructure, and inclusion. Many Indigenous communities still lack stable internet or electricity, let alone the training and legal tools to engage with AI on equal footing. Meanwhile, large AI developers race ahead, sometimes using data sourced from these communities without consent. The result? A lopsided tech economy where some benefit from AI and others are mined for it. That's why platforms like Corral matter. It consolidates tribal consultation opportunities from U.S. federal agencies, allowing Indigenous leaders to engage with policy more efficiently. By automating time-consuming administrative work, Corral frees up capacity for governance, cultural preservation, and community programming — areas that too often get sidelined due to bandwidth constraints. The promise of AI lies not in its novelty but in how it's directed. Prosocial AI — AI systems that are tailored, trained, tested, and targeted to bring out the best in and for people and the planet — is possible. It requires intent and inclusivity from design to deployment. Here's how: Design with, not for AI systems must be co-developed with Indigenous communities, drawing on their knowledge systems and lived realities. This ensures technologies are accurate and aligned with cultural values and legal rights. Invest in ethical infrastructure Renewable-powered data centers, governed by local communities, can mitigate environmental harm while creating jobs and digital sovereignty. Strengthen data sovereignty Community-owned data cooperatives and legal protections must be established to prevent extractive practices. Consent isn't just polite—it's essential. Bridge the skills-to-systems gap Coding camps, fellowships, and open-access AI education should be scaled to ensure Indigenous youth and leaders are not only users but creators of AI. AI doesn't have to repeat the extractive logic of past innovations. It can help restore language, uplift knowledge, and accelerate justice — but only if we approach it as a tool in service of community-defined goals. The choice is ours. Let's not just ask what AI can do. To reconfigure it with a holistic mindset, let's ask who it serves, why, and at what cost. What is outlined here, with a focus on Indigenous communities, applies to other minorities as well. AI can be a force of social good that serves everyone. But to unlock that potential, we must design our expanding artificial treasure chest with awareness of the differences that distinguish us and attention to the needs that we have in common. We are all different, but we all share the aspiration for happiness and the desire to be heard and respected. Prosocial AI can serve that purpose. This article is part of a broader series exploring AI's impact on equity, sustainability, and society, including changemakers from MIT Solve.
