The Strawberry Moon, the first full moon of the astronomical summer, rises in the southeast.
The full moon will peak at 7:57 pm EDT on Monday, June 29, and moonrise will occur around sunset.
Skywatchers in Washington can expect to see it at 8:53 p.m. local time, while those in Miami should see it at 8:24 p.m., Chicago at 8:49 p.m., and Los Angeles at 8:26 p.m.
Although it’s called Strawberry Moon, it doesn’t actually look pink or red. The name comes from Native American and colonial American traditions, marking the brief strawberry harvest season in northeastern North America.
But the moon could also appear orange or golden when it rises near the horizon due to the scattering effect of our planet’s atmosphere on the shorter wavelength of light.
What makes June’s full moon unique is its very low position in the sky. Unlike the other full moons seen during the winter months that reach their highest point in the sky, June’s full moon takes a shallow path, moving from the southeastern part to the southwestern part of the sky near the horizon.
The next full moon, called the Buck Moon, will appear on July 29.
