Skywatchers will have a chance to see the first full moon of summer Monday night as June’s Strawberry Moon rises with a warm golden glow. The full moon will reach peak illumination at 6:57 p.m. CDT on June 29, just days after the summer solstice, when the moon sits opposite the sun and appears fully illuminated from Earth.
Although the moon officially becomes full at that moment, it will appear bright and nearly full for a night or two before and after its peak.
Why It’s Called the Strawberry Moon
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon will not appear pink or red.
The name comes from Native American tribes who associated June’s full moon with the short strawberry-harvesting season. Other traditional names for the June full moon include the Rose Moon, Hot Moon, and Mead Moon.
As the moon rises shortly after sunset, it may appear orange or golden. That color is created because the moonlight passes through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere while it is low on the horizon, scattering shorter wavelengths of light and allowing warmer colors to dominate.
The Lowest Full Moon of the Year
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, this year’s Strawberry Moon will follow the lowest path across the sky of any full moon in 2026.
That happens because the June full moon occurs just after the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the daytime sky. Since a full moon always appears opposite the sun, it follows the lowest arc across the night sky.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true, with the Strawberry Moon tracing its highest path of the year.
Skywatchers should look toward the eastern horizon shortly after sunset to watch the moon rise among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius.
A Micromoon in 2026
This year’s Strawberry Moon also qualifies as a “micromoon.”
The moon reaches full phase just one day after apogee, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from Earth. Because of that timing, June’s full moon will be the second-smallest full moon of 2026.
While the moon will appear slightly smaller than average, the difference is minimal and unlikely to be noticeable without specialized equipment.
Why the Moon Looks So Big
Although the Strawberry Moon is technically a micromoon, many people may think it looks unusually large as it rises.
The effect is caused by the “moon illusion,” an optical phenomenon that makes the moon appear much bigger when it is close to the horizon and viewed alongside trees, buildings or other distant landmarks.
As the moon climbs higher into the sky later in the evening, it will appear smaller even though its actual size remains unchanged.
For the best view, find a location with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon shortly after sunset, when the Strawberry Moon’s golden glow and apparent size are at their most dramatic.
