Lifestyle

The Strawberry Moon is tonight: Here’s how to watch it

By
Social Links for Brooke Steinberg
Published June 21, 2024, 10:06 a.m. ET

The official start of summer is here, and the season is gifting us with a treat: a full Strawberry Moon.

The Strawberry Moon is the sixth full Moon of 2024 and comes the day after the summer solstice, appearing at its fullest at 9:08 p.m. EDT on Friday.

According to NASA, the Strawberry Moon — also known as the “Hot Moon” or the “Planting Moon” — will be the lowest-hanging full Moon of the year.

JERSEY CITY, NJ - JUNE 20: The Strawberry Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets on the summer solstice in New York City on June 20, 2024, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey.
In New York on Friday, June 21, sunset is at 8:31 p.m. EDT. moonrise is at 8:49 p.m. EDT, and the time of full moon is at 9:09 p.m. EDT. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

This is the first time in 40 years that the Strawberry Moon falls on the first day of summer.

Here is everything you need to know about the full Strawberry Moon on Friday, June 21:

What is the Strawberry Moon?

According to NASA, the Strawberry Moon’s name comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the northeastern United States.

The Native American Algonquian tribes that lived in the northwestern U.S., as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota tribes used the Strawberry Moon to mark the harvesting of wild strawberries in June, according to the Almanac.

When is the best time to see the full Strawberry Moon?

The Strawberry Moon will turn full on Friday evening, June 21, at 9:08 p.m. EDT.

NASA said in a blog post that the Moon will appear full for about three days around the same time, from Thursday evening through Sunday morning.

It’s best to view a full Moon when it appears on the eastern horizon just after the sun sets in the west, so the best time to view it will be moonrise where you are on Friday.

In New York on Friday, June 21, sunset is at 8:31 p.m. EDT. moonrise is at 8:49 p.m. EDT, and the time of the full moon is at 9:09 p.m. EDT.

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JUNE 21: Full Moon rises over Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkiye on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Isa Terli/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Strawberry Moon’s name comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the northeast. Isa Terli/Anadolu via Getty Images

Where to see the full Strawberry Moon

The best place to view the Moon would be somewhere high up that faces east or an east-facing coast. You’ll be able to view it with just your eyes — no equipment needed.

What will the Strawberry Moon look like?

Unfortunately, the Strawberry Moon won’t be red as a strawberry. Rather, it will be a shade of gold.

Since it’s traveling at a low arc across the sky, the Earth’s atmosphere will reflect in the moonlight, giving the Moon an orange or yellow hue.

WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: The moon rises behind Stonehenge, on June 20, 2024 in Wiltshire, England. On the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises in perfect alignment with the Heel Stone and Altar Stone of Stonehenge's 5000-year-old circle. This alignment shows the ancient builders' understanding of the solar calendar and suggests Stonehenge may have served as a calendar or temple for important dates and events - a tradition that continues to be marked each year. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, the Strawberry Moon won’t be red as a strawberry. Rather, it will be a shade of gold. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

When are the rest of the full Moons of 2024?

After the Strawberry Moon comes the full Buck Moon, exactly one month later.

Here are the rest of the full Moons in 2024, according to EarthSky.org:

  • Buck Moon: July 21 at 6:17 a.m. EDT
  • Sturgeon Moon: Aug. 19 at 2:26 p.m. EDT (Full Super moon)
  • Harvest Moon: Sept. 17 at 10:34 p.m. EDT (Full Super moon on 18th)
  • Hunter’s Moon: Oct. 17 at 7:26 a.m. EDT (Full Super moon)
  • Beaver Moon: Nov. 15 at 4:29 p.m. EST (Full Super moon)
  • Cold Moon: Dec. 15 at 4:02 p.m. EST