The Full Strawberry Moon falls during June, and it also happens to be the first full moon of summer this year.

The Night Sky

There's something about the night sky that has always fascinated me. I think it's because the night sky always changes, and it looks different each night.  It's super cool to see different stars and planets, and different phases of the moon. Every time you look up it's like you see something new.

Lunar Phases

Another reason the night sky often looks different each night is the Lunar Phases.  According to NASA the cycle repeats every 29.5 days which results in typically one full moon a month.  Although sometimes there are two full moons within a month.

These continually changing views of the sunlit part of the Moon are the Moon's phases. The eight lunar phases are, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter and waning crescent. The cycle repeats once a month (every 29.5 days).

 

June's Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon

The full moon that falls within June is the Strawberry Moon.  So how did June's moon get this nickname?

According to the Almanac, the Strawberry Moon typically coincides with the harvest of the delicious red berries we know and love.

June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—has traditionally been called the Strawberry Moon. While strawberries certainly are a reddish-pink color and are roundish in shape, the origin of the name “Strawberry Moon” has nothing to do with the Moon’s hue or appearance,

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When to See the Full Strawberry Moon

Almanac also notes that this year's Strawberry Moon is extra special because it coincides with the Summer Solstice.  This hasn't happened in nearly 40 years, since 1985.  The Strawberry Moon will happen on Jun 21st, reaching peak illumination around 8:08 CST.