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Astronomical Details of the June 2025 Strawberry Moon
“Strawberry Moon” Name – No Actual Color Change:
Despite its fruity name, the Strawberry Moon does not turn pink or red. (That misconception sometimes arises because of the name or comparison to phenomena like the reddish “Blood Moon” during eclipses.) The label comes from seasonal folklore rather than the Moon’s appearanceastronomy.com.
It rises from the southeast around dusk, stays fairly low (never climbing high overhead), and sets in the southwest around dawnlivescience.com. This low angle means more atmospheric filtering, often giving the Moon a honey-gold color when near the horizon – which connects to another traditional name, the “Honey Moon” (more on that below).
Mars was close to the star Regulus
in Leo, and by the following week the crescent Moon paired with Venus in the dawn skyscience.nasa.govscience.nasa.gov. (We will detail these later in the space news section.) The Summer Solstice occurred just over a week later on June 20, marking the official start of summer in the Northern Hemispherealmanac.comscience.nasa.gov.
Notable Astronomical Phenomena:
The June 2025 full moon is not accompanied by any lunar eclipse (the next lunar eclipse of 2025 will be in September) and it is not a “supermoon” – in fact, the Strawberry Moon occurs when the Moon is relatively far from Earth in its orbit. (Later full moons in 2025 – in October, November, and December – will be supermoons at perigeeastronomy.comlivescience.com, whereas June’s is closer to apogee, sometimes informally called a “micromoon”.) Nonetheless, skywatchers had other treats: around the full moon period,
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In fact, June’s full moon often appears golden or amber-hued when rising – similar to other full moons – due to Earth’s atmosphere. This June full moon is notable for its low path across the sky (in the Northern Hemisphere), which can enhance its warm tint near the horizon. Astronomers note that June’s full moon is the lowest of the year for northern observers, because it is occurring near the summer solstice when the Sun rides high and the full Moon (opposite the Sun) rides lowlivescience.comlivescience.com. Essentially, the Moon’s trajectory mirrors the Sun’s: since the June 20 solstice has the Sun at its highest, the June full moon is correspondingly low in the southern sky.
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Space & Astronomy News
Space & Astronomy News
Space & Astronomy News
Early June 2025 was an exciting time not just for moon-gazers but also for space exploration and astronomy:
- Private Astronaut Mission (Ax-4) Launches: In a remarkable coincidence, on June 11, 2025 – the very morning of the Strawberry Moon – a crewed rocket launched carrying private astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at ~12:22 UTC (8:22 a.m. EDT) on June 11, beginning Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)en.wikipedia.org. This mission, organized by Axiom Space, sent four international crew members on a 14-day trip to the ISS: commander Peggy Whitson (a former NASA astronaut, now with Axiom), pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (from India’s space agency), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. Their launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule marked several milestones – it was the first ever spaceflight for an Indian astronaut to the ISS on a commercial mission, and the first visit by a Polish astronaut in decadesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. The timing garnered extra media attention, as people noted the symbolic alignment of a full moon and a new human mission to space. (Some jokingly called it a “Strawberry launch” on social media.) The Ax-4 crew safely reached orbit and docked at the ISS, kicking off a busy stay involving science experiments (including tardigrades in space, an Indian student project)en.wikipedia.org and outreach events from orbit. Their mission represented the growing role of commercial spaceflight and international collaboration, happening right as the full moon watched over Earth.
- Satellite Launches & SpaceX Starlink: The first half of June 2025 saw intense launch activity. SpaceX in particular conducted multiple Falcon 9 launches to deploy batches of Starlink internet satellites in low Earth orbit. For example, on June 10 a Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveralen.wikipedia.org, and on June 13 another Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base carried 27 Starlink satellites into orbiten.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. These frequent launches are part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand its broadband mega-constellation. While routine, they remain noteworthy: the June 13 mission was the 100th Starlink launch in the program (a rough milestone illustrating how quickly the constellation had grown). The bright trains of Starlink satellites were even spotted by skywatchers around the world in the days after launch – including under the full moon’s glare, creating an unusual sight of moving “stars.” Aside from SpaceX, other launch providers had missions: on June 11, Rocket Lab successfully launched an Electron rocket from New Zealand carrying a Japanese radar Earth-imaging satellite (“The Moon God Guards” mission for iQPS)en.wikipedia.org. And looking a few days ahead, Amazon’s Project Kuiper (a competitor to Starlink) was preparing a June 16 launch of test satellites on a ULA Atlas V rocketkennedyspacecenter.com. In short, the period was bursting with spaceflight activity, underscoring that we live in a very active era for orbital launches.
- Webb Telescope Snaps an Exoplanet: Astronomers received thrilling news in June 2025 from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Using its high-contrast imaging capability, Webb directly photographed a distant exoplanet – a cold gas giant called 14 Herculis c – in a highly eccentric orbit around its starscience.nasa.gov. The image, revealed in early June, showed a dim red glow of the planet (about 9 Jupiter masses) with the parent star’s light masked outscience.nasa.gov. This was notable as one of the farthest and faintest exoplanets ever imaged. Scientists highlighted that 14 Her-c has a strange elongated orbit, which Webb’s data will help characterize, shedding light on how giant planets evolve in mature star systems. The successful imaging demonstrated Webb’s prowess in observing exoplanets directly – a task extremely difficult due to the blinding starlight. This discovery was widely reported just days before the full moon, marking a scientific milestone in the search for worlds beyond our solar systemscience.nasa.gov.
- Other Astronomy Highlights: The month offered several skywatching treats around the time of the Strawberry Moon. NASA’s “What’s Up” bulletin for June pointed out two especially pretty conjunctions of the Moon with planets later in the month: on June 19, the waning Moon swung close to Saturn in the pre-dawn skyscience.nasa.gov, and on June 22, an “elegant” crescent Moon appeared next to bright Venus before sunrisescience.nasa.gov. Additionally, on June 16–17 (just a few days after the full moon), Mars passed extremely close to Regulus, the blue-white heart star of Leoscience.nasa.govscience.nasa.gov. Mars and Regulus were only about half a degree apart – roughly a full-moon’s width – making a great binocular sight. Amateur astronomers enjoyed this Mars–Regulus appulse even as the glow of the receding full moon still lit the sky. Meanwhile, the Milky Way’s core was becoming visible in the late evening – June is the start of “Milky Way season” for observers, with the galaxy’s bright center rising earlier each nightscience.nasa.govscience.nasa.gov. And of course, June 20 brought the solstice (June 21 in UTC) – a significant astronomical event itself, as discussed. The Strawberry Moon thus shone amidst a rich backdrop of celestial events, connecting human stargazers to the rhythms of planets and stars.
In summary, the Strawberry Moon period wasn’t only about looking at the Moon – it was accompanied by human ventures beyond the Moon (a crew launch to ISS) and new insights far beyond the Moon (exoplanet imaging). It was a reminder that our attention was split between gazing up in wonder and boldly pushing outward into space.
Global News Events
Space & Astronomy News
Space & Astronomy News
The week before and after the June 11, 2025 full moon was an eventful period globally. Major political developments, conflicts, and observances were in the headlines:
- Middle East – Gaza Conflict: Fighting persisted in the ongoing Gaza war. In early June, a tragic incident occurred at an aid distribution center in Rafah – dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed and many injured amid chaos and gunfire as people gathered for humanitarian aiden.wikipedia.org. The exact circumstances were disputed, with Israel denying responsibility and releasing footage suggesting militants fired on the crowden.wikipedia.org. This highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza during that week. Meanwhile, daily clashes continued between Israeli forces and militants, underscoring that the conflict was still intense in June 2025.
- War in Ukraine – Crimean Bridge Attack: The Russia-Ukraine war saw a dramatic development just before the full moon. On June 3, an explosion rocked the Kerch Strait bridge (Crimean Bridge) – a critical bridge linking Crimea to Russia. Underwater explosives detonated and temporarily disabled the bridgeen.wikipedia.org. Ukraine’s security services claimed credit, saying their divers placed over a ton of TNT-equivalent charges on a bridge supporten.wikipedia.org. Russia briefly closed the bridge for repairsen.wikipedia.org. This bold sabotage came amid Ukraine’s wider campaign targeting Russian military infrastructure. Additionally, around this time Ukraine reported launching major drone strikes on Russian airbases, allegedly destroying dozens of Russian warplanes on the grounden.wikipedia.org. These events marked an escalation in the conflict, with Ukraine pressing its counteroffensive and Russia responding with heavy drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian citiesen.wikipedia.org.
- Elections and Leadership Changes: Early June 2025 saw significant elections on opposite sides of the world:
- In Poland, a presidential run-off on June 1 resulted in opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki narrowly defeating incumbent Rafał Trzaskowski, with about 50.9% of the voteen.wikipedia.org. Nawrocki, a right-wing populist and historian, was set to become Poland’s new President, signalling a potential shift in Polish politicsen.wikipedia.org.
- In South Korea, a snap presidential election was held on June 4 following the impeachment of the previous leader. Voters elected Lee Jae-myung as the new President, representing the Democratic Partyen.wikipedia.org. Lee’s victory, just 60 days after the ousting of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, ended a tumultuous political chapteren.wikipedia.org. The election drew global interest as South Korea navigated internal political crises while facing regional security challenges.
- In the Netherlands, a coalition crisis led to the collapse of the government. On June 5, the Party for Freedom (PVV) quit the ruling coalition over an asylum policy dispute, prompting Prime Minister Dick Schoof to resignen.wikipedia.org. His resignation came amid public protests and upheaval in Dutch politics, reflecting broader debates in Europe over immigration.
- In Mongolia, weeks of public protests against alleged corruption culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene around June 6en.wikipedia.org. This was a notable shift in Mongolia’s government, driven by popular demonstrations.
- United Nations & Diplomacy: In the first week of June, the UN General Assembly elected five new non-permanent members to the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–27 term. The countries winning seats were Bahrain, Latvia, Liberia, DR Congo, and Colombiaen.wikipedia.org. This routine election gained attention as these nations will join the Security Council in shaping international responses to crises starting in 2026. Their election was covered in news as part of the diplomatic developments of that week.
- Global Observances: June 5 was World Environment Day, a UN-designated day focusing on environmental protection. Across the globe, events and campaigns took place highlighting issues like climate change and ecosystem restoration (with 2025’s theme continuing calls to combat climate change). This served as a backdrop to early June news, as many countries engaged in environmental initiatives and media highlighted climate concerns. Given the extreme weather events in recent years, World Environment Day 2025 had significant resonance worldwide.
- Upcoming G7 Summit: Anticipation was building in early June for the 51st G7 Summit, scheduled for June 15–17, 2025 in Kananaskis, Canadaen.wikipedia.orgg7.canada.ca. In the week after the Strawberry Moon, leaders of the major industrial democracies would convene to discuss global economic recovery, climate commitments, and geopolitical issues (including the wars mentioned above). In early June, news outlets were already reporting on agenda items and bilateral meetings expected at the summit. The timing meant that just a few days after the full moon, world leaders would gather under the same June sky in the Canadian Rockies – a symbolic coincidence noted by some commentators. (Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, was set to host his first G7 as PMg7.canada.ca.)
- Other Events: There were numerous other news stories around this time. For example, violent unrest and security incidents occurred: in Germany, a suspect set a hospital fire in Hamburg on June 1, tragically killing three peopleen.wikipedia.org; in Uganda on June 3, a suicide bombing near a major shrine on Martyrs’ Day killed two people, an attack later attributed to the ADF rebel groupen.wikipedia.org. In West Africa’s Sahel, conflict continued as jihadist militants attacked Malian forces and UN peacekeepers, reflecting instability in Mali (news from June 1)en.wikipedia.org. Also of note, June 12 was set as the date for Turkey’s rerun Istanbul mayoral election, a politically charged contest (though the outcome would come after the Strawberry Moon week). These stories underscore that early June 2025 was a busy news period globally, spanning topics from war and peace to elections, diplomacy, and social issues.
In short, while the Strawberry Moon shone in the night sky, the world below saw significant historical moments unfolding: new leaders chosen in Europe and Asia, conflict and humanitarian crises in war zones, and the international community preparing to tackle global challenges in high-level summits.
Cultural, Historical & Spiritual Significance of the “Strawberry Moon”
Origin of the Name “Strawberry Moon”: The June full moon’s most popular nickname comes from Native American tradition. According to the Algonquian peoples of eastern North America (and similarly the Ojibwe, Dakota, Lakota and others), this full moon signaled the season of wild strawberries ripening – hence “Strawberry Moon”farmersalmanac.comlivescience.com. Early colonists and the Farmer’s Almanac later adopted this name, which has since entered popular usage. The name is symbolic of abundance and harvest – in northern climates, June is when early summer fruits like strawberries become ready to gatherastronomy.comfarmersalmanac.com.Beyond strawberries, many cultures named this moon after seasonal cu Login val England, it was dubbed the Mead Moon or Honey Moonfarmersalmanac.com. “Honey Moon” might reference the nectar of flowering plants or the practice of gathering honey during June – and notably, it’s linked to the tradition of June weddings and the honeymoon (the idea that June’s “Honey Moon” bestows luck on newlyweds)farmersalmanac.com. The term “Mead Moon” similarly comes from the honey-based mead wine, as June was a time to marry and drink mead. These Old World names emphasize June as a month of fertility, marriage, and sweetness.
- Other Names: According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and other sources, European folk names also included Flower Moon and Planting Moon (sometimes used for either May or June in different locales)livescience.com. Celtic folklore had terms like Horse Moon and Dyan Moon for Junelivescience.com. In China, the traditional name is Lotus Moon, since lotus blossoms emerge in early summerfarmersalmanac.com. In the Southern Hemisphere (where June is winter), some call the June full moon the “Cold Moon,” mirroring how the December full moon is called Cold Moon up northfarmersalmanac.com.
Spiritual and Ritual Significance: Many cultures, old and new, ascribe spiritual meaning to full moons, and the Strawberry Moon is no exception. By occurring near the mid-year solstice, June’s full moon is seen as a time of culmination, fertility, and transition. Farmers and pagan practitioners historically took this moon as a cue for agricultural rituals (planting or harvesting certain crops)farmersalmanac.com. Some modern Neopagan and Wiccan traditions refer to the June full moon as the “Planting Moon” or “Dyad Moon,” and may hold gatherings or esbats (full moon ceremonies) focusing on growth and gratitude for nature’s abundancefarmersalmanac.comlivescience.com. The name “Strawberry Moon” itself evokes gratitude for the Earth’s gifts, and it’s common for people to perform rituals of appreciation, such as offering the first strawberries of the season or spending time meditating in nature under the moonlight.In summary, the Strawberry Moon’s significance around the world centers on growth, warmth, and community. Whether it’s ripe berries, blooming roses, or honey from the hive, people have long celebrated this full moon as a sweet milestone of early summer – a time to come together and enjoy the fruits of the earth.
Events, Festivals & Gatherings Celebrating the Strawberry Moon
The allure of the Strawberry Moon extends beyond science and news – it also inspires cultural events and community gatherings. Around June 2025, various groups organized festivals and observances tied to the full moon:
- Indigenous Cultural Festivals: In Upstate New York, the Strawberry Moon Festival at Artpark (Lewiston, NY) has become an annual tradition. In 2025 it was held on Saturday, June 21 (the weekend after the full moon)artpark.net. This daytime festival, curated in partnership with local Native American communities, celebrates themes of “Renewal, Generosity & Connection,” echoing the teachings of the Strawberry Moonartpark.net. Attendees enjoyed Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) music and dance performances, storytelling by Indigenous elders, workshops on cultural traditions, and an artisan market of Native craftsartpark.netartpark.net. A highlight was the Smoke Dance competition, where dancers of all ages competed in a traditional fast-paced Iroquois dance, thrilling the crowdsartpark.net. The festival’s intent is to honor the Strawberry Moon as a time of coming together and to share the heritage of the region’s First Nations. Similarly, in nearby Western New York, the Buffalo-Niagara region hosted a Strawberry Moon celebration showcasing diverse Indigenous cultures of North America, open to the public for education and enjoymentvisitbuffaloniagara.com.
- Historical Reenactment – “Feast of the Strawberry Moon”: In Grand Haven, Michigan, the Feast of the Strawberry Moon took place on June 14–15, 2025 (the weekend of the full moon)feastofthestrawberrymoon.comfeastofthestrawberrymoon.com. This is a popular 18th-century living history festival set along the Grand River. Reenactors in period costume created an encampment to portray life in the Great Lakes fur trade era (circa 1760s)feastofthestrawberrymoon.comfeastofthestrawberrymoon.com. The event highlights the interactions of Native Americans, French voyageurs, British soldiers, and American settlers. Visitors could explore historical demonstrations – from musket firing and cannon drills to blacksmithing, open-fire cooking, and crafts like wood carving and weavingfeastofthestrawberrymoon.comfeastofthestrawberrymoon.com. There were also skits and battle re-enactments dramatizing local history, plus music and dance of the 1700s. The name and timing honor the Strawberry Moon as a traditional gathering time. Local Native American storytellers often participate, sharing how their ancestors lived during that era. It’s both educational and celebratory, drawing families to learn history under the early summer moon (with the festival even extending into evening lantern-light on one night). The Feast of the Strawberry Moon demonstrates how a full moon can serve as a bridge between past and present – a focal point for community heritage and remembrance.
- Community Farm & Nature Celebrations: Given the Strawberry Moon’s link to agriculture, it’s fitting that farming communities mark it. For example, Pineland Farms in Maine hosted a “Strawberry Moon Celebration” over several evenings of June 19, 20, 21, 2025shop.pinelandfarms.org. This event was like an “ultimate farm picnic”: the farm opened its strawberry fields from 4–7 PM for the public to pick berries, enjoy local food trucks and live music, and watch the moon rise over the fieldsshop.pinelandfarms.org. Families could wander through 30 acres of berries, with children meeting farm animals and everyone feasting on strawberry shortcake. Essentially, it was a rural community party themed around the Strawberry Moon and the peak of strawberry harvest seasonshop.pinelandfarms.org. The modest entry fee even could be applied toward the cost of berries picked – a clever way to connect the celebration with the practical harvest. Despite some clouds on one of the evenings, the full moon made appearances, and many attendees paused picking to cheer the golden moon as it came up. Such events illustrate the enduring practice of using the full moon as a natural calendar marker for agricultural festivities.
- Full Moon Drum Circles and Spiritual Gatherings: Across many cities and towns, full moon circles convene for music, meditation, or dance. The June 2025 full moon was no exception – indeed, the Strawberry Moon’s reputation for warmth and community made it a popular full moon to celebrate. In Southern California, the Laguna Beach Full Moon Drum Circle met at Aliso Beach on the night of June 11, 2025 (Wednesday)southocbeaches.com. Dozens of people gathered on the sand at sunset, bringing drums, shakers, and guitars. From dusk until about 10 PM, they drummed and danced under the moonlight as the Strawberry Moon – a smaller “micromoon” this month – rose above the oceansouthocbeaches.comsouthocbeaches.com. These drum circles are informal and inclusive: anyone can join, and they’ve become a beloved tradition fostering connectedness through rhythm. On the U.S. East Coast, similarly, full moon drum circles took place – for instance, in Miami Beach a group hosted a “Strawberry Full Moon Drum Circle” by the 80th Street lifeguard stand on June 11eventbrite.com. Attendees in Miami were encouraged to wear something strawberry-colored and share positive intentions for the summer. Many spiritual or yoga communities also hold full moon meditations and moonrise hikes during June’s full moon, using the gentle light and symbolic meaning of the Strawberry Moon for reflection. From Florida to California (and many places in between), the act of coming together under the full moon – often with music or mindfulness – is a growing cultural phenomenon. The Strawberry Moon, with its inviting early summer weather, might be one of the year’s most popular full moons for such gatherings.
- Virtual Events and Online Communities: In addition to physical events, the Strawberry Moon was celebrated in the digital sphere. Astronomy clubs and science centers, for example, held live-streamed telescope sessions of the full moon for those at home. On June 10, 2025, the night before full, the Lowell Observatory streamed a Moon observing event online, sharing close-up views of lunar craters (despite the bright phase washing out some detail) and discussing why it’s called a Strawberry Moon. On social media, hashtags like #StrawberryMoon and #FullMoon trended with users posting their photos of the big moon low on the horizon with a pinkish tint (due to atmospheric scattering, not strawberries!). Many also shared cultural facts or personal reflections, effectively creating a global virtual gathering appreciating the Moon. NASA’s outreach Twitter account posted a reminder of the full moon time and an infographic about full moon names, engaging users in a bit of lunar triviafarmersalmanac.comlivescience.com.
From Indigenous festivals and historical fairs to drumming circles on the beach, the Strawberry Moon continues to bring people together. These events show that even in the modern world, an age-old full moon can still serve as a natural occasion for celebration – a time to unite across cultures, remember traditions, and simply enjoy the magic of the moonlight. As June 2025’s Strawberry Moon rose, people around the world were not only looking up in wonder, but also connecting with each other, inspired by its light and what it symbolizes in the human experience.
Sources:
- Full moon timing and astronomy details: Farmer’s Almanacfarmersalmanac.com; Astronomy Magazineastronomy.com; Royal Observatory Greenwichrmg.co.uk; Live Sciencelivescience.comlivescience.com.
- Origin of “Strawberry Moon” name: Astronomy.comastronomy.com; Farmer’s Almanacfarmersalmanac.com; Live Sciencelivescience.com.
- Alternative names and cultural significance: Farmer’s Almanac (Melissa Mayntz, June Full Moon)farmersalmanac.comfarmersalmanac.comfarmersalmanac.com; Live Science (Jamie Carter)livescience.com.
- Gaza aid center incident: AP News/BBC via Wikipedia Current Eventsen.wikipedia.org.
- Crimean Bridge explosion: BBC News via Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org.
- Polish election result: The Guardian via Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org.
- South Korean election: Yonhap/NPR via Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org.
- Dutch PM resignation: The Guardian via Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org.
- UNSC election: Reuters via Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org.
- World Environment Day & Solstice: Old Farmer’s Almanacalmanac.comalmanac.com.
- G7 Summit 2025 dates: G7 Canada official siteen.wikipedia.orgg7.canada.ca.
- Axiom-4 mission launch and crew: Spaceflight Now/Wikipediaen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
- SpaceX Starlink launches: Spaceflight Nowen.wikipedia.org; Wikipedia launch listen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
- Webb Telescope exoplanet image: NASA News Releasescience.nasa.gov.
- Mars-Regulus, Moon-planet events: NASA JPL “What’s Up”science.nasa.govscience.nasa.gov.
- Artpark Strawberry Moon Festival: Artpark.net (event program)artpark.net.
- Feast of the Strawberry Moon (Grand Haven): West MI Historical Alliancefeastofthestrawberrymoon.comfeastofthestrawberrymoon.com.
- Pineland Farms event: Pineland Farms (community events listing)shop.pinelandfarms.orgshop.pinelandfarms.org.
- Laguna Beach drum circle: South OC Beaches local blogsouthocbeaches.comsouthocbeaches.com.
- Miami Beach drum circle: Eventbrite listing via Google cachem.facebook.com.
- Additional cultural references: Farmer’s Almanac (names)farmersalmanac.com; Timeanddate via Live Sciencelivescience.com; RMG UK Moon Calendarrmg.co.uk.