Summer is here, and the Moon is about to put on a spectacular show to celebrate. Just one day after the summer solstice, June’s full moon—known as the Strawberry Moon—will be at its fullest. It will also appear exceptionally large because, according to Farmer’s Almanac, it is the lowest full moon in years. This is due to the Moon mirroring the Sun’s position in the sky. Since the summer solstice marks the Sun’s highest point in the Northern Hemisphere, the Moon is consequently quite low. This low position creates the Moon Illusion, making the Moon appear significantly larger when it is close to the horizon.
June’s full moon is called the Strawberry Moon because it coincides with North America’s strawberry harvest season. Native American tribes named the moons to track the year and specific activities tied to each period. The Algonquin tribes’ names for the moons have become the most familiar, largely due to the Farmer’s Almanac’s publication of these names since the 1930s. Other Native American names for June’s full moon include Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), Birth Moon (Tlingit), and Egg Laying Moon (Cree). An old European name for the June full moon is the Mead or Honey Moon, named after the fermented honey drink. Some believe the term “honeymoon” originates from the tradition of marrying in June. Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon will not appear red; instead, it will shine large and bright on Friday, June 21, peaking at 9:08 p.m. EDT.