Summer's Lowest Moon: Understanding the June Strawberry Moon's Unique Path

The Strawberry Moon is the full moon that occurs in June, named after the wild strawberries that ripen during early summer. Other names include the Rose Moon, Hot Moon, and Mead Moon. The name comes from Native American Algonquian tribes and other peoples like the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota who used it to mark the ripening of "June-bearing" strawberries ready to be gathered.

This Year's Strawberry Moon

The 2026 Strawberry Moon reaches its peak on June 29, 2026 at 7:57 p.m. EDT (11:57 UTC). Since today is June 27, it's happening very soon!

What Makes It Special

The Strawberry Moon is unique because it traces an unusually low path across the Northern Hemisphere sky, rising and setting at extreme points. It rises late, well south of due east, follows a shallow arc across the sky, and sets early, well south of due west. This happens because the full moon always rides opposite the sun—since the sun is at its highest point in June near the summer solstice, the moon hugs the southern horizon.

To see it, look to the southeastern horizon at sunset on June 29, where the Strawberry Moon will climb into the early summer sky. The moon may appear particularly large due to the moon illusion effect when it's close to the horizon, and it may adopt a yellow-orange glow as its light is scattered through the atmosphere.