The Strawberry Moon is the traditional name given to the full moon that occurs in June. This annual occurrence is the consistent result of the Moon’s predictable orbit around Earth. The full moon phase happens every 29.5 days when the Earth is positioned roughly between the Sun and the Moon, allowing us to see the entire illuminated lunar surface. The June full moon is simply the iteration that falls within the sixth month of the year, usually serving as the last full moon of spring or the first of summer.
The Astronomical Basis of the June Full Moon
The June full moon is unique from an observer’s perspective because of its proximity to the Summer Solstice, the day the Sun reaches its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere sky. Since the full moon must be nearly opposite the sun in the sky, the June full moon tracks the lowest path of the year across the horizon for Northern Hemisphere viewers.
This low trajectory means the June full moon spends a longer time “hugging” the horizon compared to full moons in other months. The orbital mechanics behind this are linked to the Earth’s 23.5-degree axial tilt. When the Sun is at its maximum height above the horizon during the June Solstice, the Moon, which is opposite the Sun, is at its minimum height.
The Moon’s orbit is also slightly tilted relative to the Earth’s orbit around the sun, an angle which causes the Moon’s path to “wobble” over an 18.6-year cycle. When this cycle reaches its most extreme point, known as a major lunar standstill, the June full moon is even lower than usual. This low-hanging arc makes the June full moon visible for a long duration, but it never rises very high into the night sky.
Origin of the “Strawberry” Name
The name “Strawberry Moon” is not an astronomical term, but a cultural one originating in North American traditions, particularly those of the Algonquin tribes. These tribes, spanning from the Northeast U.S. toward Lake Superior, used the full moon names to track seasons and agricultural cycles. The June full moon was named to signal the brief period when wild strawberries were ripe for harvesting in the region.
The adoption of the name by early European settlers helped popularize it into the common vernacular used today. However, many other names were used by different cultures to mark the June full moon, all connected to seasonal changes. In Europe, the full moon was often referred to as the Rose Moon, which marked the time when roses blossomed fully.
Other cultures also called it the Honey Moon or Mead Moon, possibly relating to the golden color of the low-hanging moon or the making of mead. Other Native American names emphasize the function of the full moon as a natural calendar for important annual events:
- The Green Corn Moon, used by tribes who relied on corn as a staple crop.
- The Berries Ripen Moon, an encompassing name used by the Haida tribe.
Visual Appearance and Misconceptions
A common misconception is that the Strawberry Moon inherently possesses a pink or reddish color. Astronomically, the Moon itself does not change color during this phase; it reflects sunlight just as it does during any other full moon. The visual effect of a warm, reddish, or amber hue is a result of atmospheric optics, not an intrinsic lunar trait.
Because the June full moon travels along a low arc, its light has to pass through a significantly larger amount of Earth’s atmosphere to reach an observer’s eye. This thicker layer of air scatters the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light away. The longer, redder, and yellower wavelengths are less scattered, allowing them to dominate the light that ultimately reaches the ground. This atmospheric filtering makes the Moon appear golden or orange when it is near the horizon, a phenomenon similar to why sunrises and sunsets look red.