The Strawberry Moon gets its name from strawberry harvests in North America.
However, you might recognise it as the Rose Moon or the Hot Moon, as it has alternative names.
Here’s what we know about the Strawberry Moon and what to expect in UK skies in June 2026.
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What is a Strawberry Moon?
“In North America, the harvesting of strawberries in June gives that month’s full moon its name.
“Europeans have dubbed it the rose moon, while other cultures named it the hot moon for the beginning of the summer heat”, explains the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) website.
When will the Strawberry Moon be visible in June?
You can look out for the Strawberry Moon during the last week of June.
It’s expected to be visible at 12.57am on Tuesday, June 30, based on the Royal Observatory’s location in London.
How to see a full Moon
BBC Sky At Night Magazine explains that “many astronomers will tell you not to bother trying to observe the full Moon, as it’s best seen during the crescent and gibbous phases.”
However, if you’re excited to see a full Moon, it’s suggested that you go to an observing site on a clear night.
The magazine suggests: “It’s all too easy to take the rising full Moon for granted, only stopping to watch if you glimpse it inadvertently rather than treating it as a celestial event in its own right.
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“Yet if you can get to an observing site with an unobstructed horizon on a clear evening, there are many fascinating phenomena to catch sight of as the Moon climbs.”
When it comes to photographing a planet on a phone, the magazine adds: “If you want to record the planets as more than just dots, point your phone’s camera down the pre-focused eyepiece of a telescope.
“Known as afocal imaging, this takes a bit of practice and a steady hand!”
When is the next full Moon and when was the last?
The last full Moon was the Blue Moon on Sunday, May 31.
After the Strawberry Moon, you can look forward to seeing the Buck Moon at the end of July.
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The Buck Moon’s Native American name relates to the male deer, which shed their antlers annually and start to regrow them in July.
RMG adds: “Some refer to this moon as the thunder moon, due to the summer storms in this month.
“Other names include the hay moon, after the July hay harvest.”
Will you be looking out for the Strawberry Moon later this month? Let us know in the comments.
