Overview
- The Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination on Monday, June 29 at 7:57 p.m. ET and will appear full for several nights before and after that peak.
- This full moon coincides with lunar apogee, making it a micromoon and the smallest full moon of 2026 by apparent size.
- The Moon can look orange or reddish when it sits low near the horizon because its light travels through more of Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters shorter blue wavelengths.
- Local rise and peak times differ by location and time zone, so skywatchers should check regional services such as Time and Date and choose an open, low-horizon view after sunset for the best sighting.
- The name comes from Native American seasonal names recorded by almanacs to mark strawberry harvest time, and this event follows recent unusual lunar timing in 2026 such as May’s blue moon.