The full Strawberry Moon rises on Thursday, June 24, 2021! Is it really a supermoon? Learn all about this month’s full Moon, including why it’s called the Strawberry Moon!
When to See the Full Moon in June 2021
In the evening of Thursday, June 24—just after sunset—look towards the southeast to watch the full Moon rise gently above the horizon. There, it will appear large and golden hued.
June’s full Moon will reach peak illumination at 2:40 P.M. Eastern Time on June 24, but will not be visible until later that evening, when it drifts above the horizon. Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see when it will appear in your area.
A Strawberry Supermoon?
You may have heard that this full Moon will be another supermoon. In fact, whether or not this month’s Moon is a supermoon depends on which definition of “supermoon” you choose to follow!
At the Almanac, we define a full Moon as being a supermoon if it is less than 224,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) away from Earth. June’s full Moon stands at 224,662 miles (361,558 km) away—just barely outside that cut-off point. So, by that technical definition, we do not consider June’s full Moon to be a supermoon. However, given that it’s only a couple thousand miles farther away than April and May’s supermoons, viewers won’t observe a perceptible difference. The full Moon will still appear big and bright this month as long as we enjoy dark, clear night skies!
Why Is It Called the Strawberry Moon?
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.
The Strawberry Moon
June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon.
This name has been used by Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others, to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. The Haida term Berries Ripen Moon reflects this as well. As flowers bloom and early fruit ripens, June is a time of great abundance for many.
Alternative June Moon Names
Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe) is indicative of the flowering season, while Green Corn Moon (Cherokee) and Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki) suggest that it’s time to tend to young crops.
Other names highlight that this is a time of new life: The Tlingit have used the term Birth Moon, referring to the time when certain animals are born in their region (the Pacific Northwest). Egg Laying Moon and Hatching Moon are Cree terms that also hint at a time of many animal babies.
Alternative European names for this Moon include the Honey Moon and the Mead Moon. June was traditionally the month of marriages, and is even named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. Following marriage comes the “honeymoon,” which may be tied to this alternative Moon name!
► See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.
Moon Phases for June 2021
See our Moon Phase Calendar to customize dates and times to your location.
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Last Quarter: June 2, 3:26 A.M. EDT |
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New Moon: June 10, 6:54 A.M. EDT |
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First Quarter: June 17, 11:54 P.M. EDT |
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Full Moon: June 24, 2:40 P.M. EDT |
► Check out our Moonrise & Moonset Calculator to see when the Moon rises in your location.
For your next full Moon, see our Full Moon Dates chart.
June Moon Folklore
- A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
- Days following both the New and Full Moons are most likely to be rainy or stormy.
- Crabbing, shrimping, and clamming are best when the Moon is full.
Full Strawberry Moon Video
Learn more about how the full Strawberry Moon name originated, along with some fascinating Moon facts, in our short video here:
Best Days in June 2021
Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in June.
| Activity | Best Days |
| Go Camping | 22, 23 |
| Setting Eggs | 18, 19, 27, 28 |
| Fishing | 10–24 |
► See all activities on our Best Days calendar.
Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!
I agree with a gentleman who wrote asking if the full moon art work is available - it has been a couple of years since he wrote in- any chance the artist has considered offering them as single prints and or as a calendar?!
They would sell off the shelves!!!