Strawberry Moon: June's Full Moon Explained
The Strawberry Moon is the full moon traditionally associated with June. In 2027, it reaches its full phase on June 18 in North America, only a few days before the June solstice.
The name refers to the short wild-strawberry season in parts of northeastern North America. It doesn’t mean the Moon will look like a strawberry, although its low path near the summer solstice can give it a warm orange or reddish color around moonrise.
Strawberry Moon 2027
- Full moon
- June 18
- Exact time
- 8:45 PM EDT
- Moonrise
- 8:41 PM
- Look toward
- Southeast
When is the Strawberry Moon?
The Strawberry Moon is June’s full moon. In 2027, the Moon will reach its full phase on June 18 at 8:44 p.m. EDT, or 5:44 p.m. PDT. In Europe and other time zones farther east, the date will already be June 19.
The exact local time may fall before or after moonrise, but the Moon will look full throughout the evening. Check the fact sheet above for the time and viewing direction in your locale.
Strawberry Moon dates by year
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Fri, June 21 |
| 2025 | Wed, June 11 |
| 2026 | Mon, June 29 |
| 2027 | Fri, June 18 |
| 2028 | Wed, June 7 |
| 2029 | Mon, June 25 |
| 2030 | Sat, June 15 |
| 2031 | Thu, June 5 |
| 2032 | Wed, June 23 |
| 2033 | Sun, June 12 |
Times shown in ET
Why is it called the Strawberry Moon?
Wild strawberries ripen for a relatively brief period near the beginning of summer. That seasonal harvest is the usual explanation for the June full moon’s familiar name. NASA describes the Strawberry Moon as marking the time when wild strawberries begin to ripen in parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Strawberries also remain part of living seasonal traditions. The Oneida Nation describes the wild strawberry as the first fruit to ripen and celebrates it with a ceremony in which strawberries are prepared as a medicine.
Other names for June’s full moon
Honey Moon and Rose Moon are two other names associated with June’s full moon. Honey Moon may refer to the traditional timing of honey collection, while Rose Moon reflects the flowers blooming around the beginning of summer.
Why the 2027 Strawberry Moon stays so low
The 2027 Strawberry Moon arrives about two and a half days before the June solstice. At this time of year, the Sun follows its highest path across the Northern Hemisphere’s sky. A full moon sits opposite the Sun, so it follows a low path and remains closer to the southern horizon.
That low route keeps the Moon in thicker layers of atmosphere for longer, making yellow, orange, or red tones more noticeable. It also means trees, buildings, and hills can block the view for longer than expected—so plan accordingly.