Get ready to see the first full moon of summer as the stunning Strawberry Moon rises tonight (June 29).
The moon officially reaches its full phase at 7:57 p.m. EDT (2357 GMT) on June 29 when it sits opposite the sun in Earth’s sky and appears fully illuminated. While that will mark the exact moment of the full moon, our lunar neighbor will appear bright and round for a night or two before and after.
June’s full moon will be the lowest-hanging full moon of the year. That’s because it occurs close to the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the daytime sky. As a full moon always appears opposite the sun, it follows the opposite path across the sky, tracing the year’s lowest arc.
Look east shortly after sunset to watch the Strawberry Moon climb into the evening sky among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius.
June’s full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon, a name linked to the short strawberry harvesting season traditionally observed by Native American tribes. Other names for June’s full moon include the Rose Moon, Hot Moon and Mead Moon, according to Time and Date.
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon won’t appear pink. However, it may take on a golden or orange hue as it rises. This happens because moonlight must pass through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere when the moon is low on the horizon, scattering shorter wavelengths of light and allowing warmer colors to dominate.
You may also notice the moon appearing unusually large near the horizon. This is due to a phenomenon known as the moon illusion, a trick of perception that makes the moon seem bigger when viewed alongside distant landscape features.
If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binocular deals and the best telescope deals can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event.
Editor’s Note: If you snap a photo of the full moon and would like to share it with Space.com’s readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.