June’s Spectacular Strawberry Moon Didn’t Disappoint

Avid sky-watchers observed as the Strawberry Moon made its hotly-anticipated appearance on June 10. Known for its unique amber hues and, at certain glances, rosy glow, the Strawberry Moon is thought of as the final full moon of the spring or the first full moon of the summer. It’s the 6th of 12 full moons in 2025. And this year, it did not disappoint.

In rare moments, the Strawberry Moon can occur at the same time as the summer solstice. This was the case in 2016, when Astronaut Jeff Williams of NASA captured the “spectacular rise” of the full moon from the International Space Station.

In 2023, the Strawberry Moon shone over New York City’s Statue of Liberty landmark, resulting in striking photos taken in the early hours of the morning.

Here’s what you need to know about June’s celestial event:

What exactly is the Strawberry Moon and how did it get its name?

The name Strawberry Moon comes from the fact that the month of June is when the harvesting of strawberries occurs, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Moons often get their name from the season, like how May’s Flower Moon references spring’s abundance of blossoms.

According to Western Washington University, the Strawberry Moon moniker was used by several Indigenous tribes. 

Other Native American tribes have called the lunar spectacular the Hot Moon and the Blooming Moon, to commemorate the spring season, and the Hatching Moon or Birth Moon to commemorate new life.

Outside of North America, Europeans have in the past dubbed it the Rose Moon or even the Honey Moon, as June is typically the first honey harvest of the year.

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When did the 2025 Strawberry Moon peak?

The Strawberry Moon peaked on June 11 at 3:44 A.M. ET, though the best time to view the moon was as it rose on June 10 at dusk in the Southeast of the U.S., when the moon cast a warm, amber hue across the sky.

The red supergiant star Antares was also visible in the night sky on June 10 crossing into June 11. Australians and New Zealanders, along with those in the South Pacific, were able to watch the moon occult—or block—Antares.

Antares is the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation, and its lunar occultation occurred at twilight for those in the western part of the South Pacific, and in the eastern part of the region occurred later in the evening, at around 7:00 p.m. local time.

Read More: Scientists Are Stumped by Mysterious Pulsing ‘Star’

What is the best way to witness the Strawberry Moon?

The moon always appears clearest in places without light pollution and from an elevated spot. For those planning ahead for 2026, ideal locations include someplace with an uncompromised view of the eastern horizon.

Generally speaking, best practices for viewing the moon with a bare eye is to give yourself "plenty of time for your eyes to adjust and look carefully," according to NASA.

But the full moon can be seen with even more specificity via binoculars or a small telescope, which allow viewers to observe many different features of the moon, including its mountain ridges and where it has been marked by impacts from other celestial objects.

As for the 2025 Strawberry Moon, it was the lowest-hanging full moon of the year as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. According to EarthSky, this Strawberry Moon was the lowest full moon since 2006, due to the major lunar standstill. This phenomenon, which occurs every 18.6 years, causes the moonrise and moonset to occur at the most extreme north and southernmost points.

See striking images of the 2025 Strawberry Moon