Skywatchers will have a chance to see June’s full moon Monday night, commonly known as the Strawberry Moon. Despite its name, the Moon won’t actually appear pink or red. Instead, the name comes from the time of year when wild strawberries traditionally ripened and were ready for harvest in parts of North America.
This year’s Strawberry Moon also comes with a unique distinction: it’s a micromoon.
Why is it called a micromoon?
The Moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth, meaning its distance from us changes throughout the month.
The point where the Moon is farthest from Earth is called apogee. This month’s full moon occurs just one day after apogee, making it one of the most distant full moons of the year.
Because it’s slightly farther away than average, the Moon will appear just a bit smaller in the sky. However, the difference is subtle—only a few percent—and is nearly impossible to notice without comparing photographs side by side.
June’s Strawberry Moon is expected to be the second-smallest full moon of 2026.
The lowest full moon of the year
Another interesting feature of tonight’s full moon is the path it takes across the sky.
Around the summer solstice, the Sun follows its highest arc of the year across the Northern Hemisphere. A full moon always appears opposite the Sun in the sky, so June’s full moon takes the opposite path—staying unusually low above the horizon.
As a result, the Strawberry Moon will trace the lowest trajectory of any full moon this year.
When the Moon is near the horizon, it can also appear much larger than it really is. This is known as the Moon Illusion, an optical illusion caused by our brain comparing the Moon to familiar objects like trees, buildings and the horizon. Even though the Moon looks enormous, its actual size hasn’t changed.
When to look
The Strawberry Moon will rise around sunset Monday evening and remain visible throughout the night, weather permitting.
Whether you’re hoping to spot one of the year’s smallest full moons or simply enjoy a beautiful summer night, June’s Strawberry Moon offers a great excuse to look up.
If you snap a great photo of the Strawberry Moon we’d love to see it! Send it to us to be featured on air or online at Click2Pins.