Link to newsround

Strawberry Moon: What is June's full moon and when can you see it?

Strawberry Moon photographed in India in 2021.Image source, Getty Images
  • Published

Stargazers, it's nearly that time of the month again. Get ready as June's full Moon will soon be lighting up the night sky.

It is expected to peak across the UK on Tuesday 30th June in the early morning.

It will also be a micromoon - meaning the Moon will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual because it will be at one of the furthest points from Earth in its orbit.

But why is June's called the Strawberry Moon, and when exactly can you see it?

Keep reading to find out..

When can I see June's full Moon?

Super strawberry pink moon and silhouette branch tree in the night sky, taken in Thailand in 2023. Elements of this image have been furnished by Nasa.Image source, Getty Images

In many cultures, including Native American tribes, people named the full moons throughout the year as a way to keep track of time.

June's full Moon is often known as the Strawberry Moon in the Northern Hemisphere, because it marks the time of year when strawberries would traditionally be harvested.

However, it is also sometimes referred to as the Rose Moon or the Honey Moon.

It will reach its peak at 12.57am on Tuesday 30 June, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, although these timings can slightly change depending on where in the UK you are.

It will also look full in the days before and after the peak, so you might have an extra chance to spot it.

Why do monthly full Moons have names?

Timelapse of a reflected full moon rise.Image source, Getty Images

Throughout history, people have used the Moon and the light it reflects for different tasks such as hunting, planting and harvesting.

Cultures across the world give these full moons different names to describe what was happening in the month.

The modern calendar no longer follows the Moon's phases exactly, so sometimes there's more than one full Moon a month, which is known as a Blue Moon.

Why not use our calendar below to find the name for your birth month's full Moon?

What are the names of all the full Moons, and what do they mean?

Full moon.Image source, Getty Images

January: Wolf Moon

Native Americans and medieval Europeans called January's full Moon a Wolf Moon. It's thought to be because wolves howled more at this time of year, as there was less food.

February: Snow Moon

The snowy weather of February in North America led to the name Snow Moon. Other common names include Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March: Worm Moon

The Worm Moon appears in March at the end of winter when little creatures like worms begin squirming out of the ground. It's also called Milk Moon.

April: Pink Moon

Disappointingly, the Pink Moon isn't actually pink. It's named by Native Americans after pink flowers called wild ground phlox that bloom in early spring and appear throughout the United States and Canada.

It is also called Egg Moon and Fish Moon in other cultures.

Phlox flowers.Image source, Getty Images

May: Flower Moon

May's flowers are the reason for this month's name.

Other names include Hare Moon, Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.

June: Strawberry Moon

Native American Algonquin tribes named this the Strawberry Moon. This is because they would harvest strawberries at this time.

It's also called the Honey Moon, Rose Moon and Mead Moon.

July: Buck Moon

This is the time when a buck, a male deer, grows its full antlers. This Moon is also called Thunder Moon after the summer thunderstorms.

August: Sturgeon Moon

People in North America caught sturgeons, a type of fish, around this time.

It is sometimes known as a Grain Moon, or Green Corn Moon or Black Cherries Moon in some cultures.

Moon over a cornfield.Image source, Getty Images

September: Corn Moon

If it is the nearest full Moon to the autumnal equinox, it is called the Harvest Moon instead.

September's full Moon is thought to be called Corn Moon because that's when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.

At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright, allowing farmers to continue harvesting into the night.

October: Hunter's Moon

This is the time when people would plan for the winter months and hunt animals for food.

Like September's full Moon, it is sometimes called the Harvest Moon.

November: Beaver Moon

Beavers often start building their dams about this time, which is where it got its name.

It is also sometimes called Frost Moon.

December: Cold Moon

The winter chill gave December's full Moon the name Cold Moon.

Other names include the Long Night Moon and the Oak Moon.