Strawberry Moon 2025: Exact Date, Peak Time & How to Watch the Vibrant Full Moon

H2: When and Where to Watch the Strawberry Moon 2025 The June full moon reaches peak illumination on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 3 :44 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (07:44 UTC). Because it rises the evening of June 10 and sets at dawn on June 11, North America, Europe, and much of Africa will all get a prime view. Moonrise occurs shortly after local sunset, so look low on the southeast horizon for a pale-gold disc. H2: Why This Year’s Strawberry Moon Is Extra-Rare 2025 is a major “lunar standstill” year, the midpoint of an 18.6-year cycle when the Moon’s path reaches extreme highs and lows. In June that means the full moon tracks exceptionally low across the summer sky, making the 2025 Strawberry Moon the lowest full moon in nearly two decades. The low altitude enhances the “Moon illusion,” making it appear larger and potentially tinting it amber or pink as its light passes through more atmosphere. H2: What’s Behind the Name “Strawberry Moon”? Native American Algonquin tribes named the June full moon after the short strawberry-harvest season. In Europe it was once called the “Honey Moon” or “Mead Moon,” terms that survive in the phrase “honeymoon.” Despite the name, the Strawberry Moon’s color is usually the same silvery hue—any rosy tint comes from atmospheric scattering near the horizon. H2: Peak Times by Time Zone • Eastern U.S. / Canada: 3:44 a.m. EDT, June 11 • Central: 2:44 a.m. CDT • Mountain: 1:44 a.m. MDT • Pacific: 12:44 a.m. PDT • U.K. & Ireland: 8:44 a.m. BST (best viewed at moonset) • Western Europe: 9:44 a.m. CEST (watch near dawn) • India: 1:14 p.m. IST (best evening rise on June 10) H2: Viewing Tips for the Lowest Full Moon Until 2043 • Find a clear, low horizon such as a beach, open field, or city rooftop—trees and buildings easily block this ultra-low moon. • Bring binoculars or a camera with at least a 200 mm lens; the large apparent size near the horizon makes for dramatic landscape shots. • Shoot during “blue hour” (15–30 minutes after sunset) to capture both moon detail and foreground color. • For smartphone photography, lock focus on the Moon and under-expose slightly to avoid a blown-out disc. H2: Spiritual and Cultural Significance In many modern traditions the Strawberry Moon signals the season of abundance and fruition. Astrologers link June’s full moon in Sagittarius with themes of exploration and truth-seeking, while Earth-based faiths mark it with strawberry-picking rituals and honey-infused celebrations. H2: Key Facts at a Glance • Full phase: 3:44 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2025 • Altitude at culmination (New York): 22° • Next comparably low June full moon: 2043 • Next full moon after Strawberry: Buck Moon, July 10 (2025) H2: Don’t Miss the Post-Full-Moon Pairings On the nights following peak, the waning gibbous Moon passes near the bright red star Antares in Scorpius and sweeps by Saturn in the pre-dawn sky—bonus targets for binocular observers. Capture the 2025 Strawberry Moon while you can; the combination of a lunar standstill and early-summer skies won’t line up this perfectly again for 18 years.