In June, we’ll see the Strawberry Moon, one of the biggest and brightest Full Moons in 2022. Why is it called that, and how is it different from the other Full Moons? Let’s figure it out.
When is the Full Moon in June 2022?
On June 14, 2022, at 7:52 a.m. EDT (11:52 GMT), the Full Moon occurs. The fully-illuminated lunar disk will be shining in the constellation Ophiuchus. For the naked eye, it will appear full the day before and after June 14, so you’ll still have a chance to see it even if you miss the exact moment of the Full Moon.
What is a Strawberry Moon?
“Strawberry Moon” is one of the traditional names for the June Full Moon used by Native Americans. The name is based not on the Moon’s features but on the peculiarities of the month: for Native American tribes, June was the strawberry harvesting season.
June Full Moon alternative names
Though the name “Strawberry Moon” became the most popular, in Europe, the June Full Moon was called the Rose Moon — maybe because roses bloom this month or because the June Full Moon sometimes looks pink (we’ve described this phenomenon below).
Another European name was the Mead Moon or the Honey Moon, as June was also the season of harvesting honey. Perhaps the tradition of calling the first month of marriage “honeymoon” originated from this name since June was believed to be the best month for a wedding.
This year, the June Full Moon falls on Poson Poya. On this day, the people of Sri Lanka commemorate the introduction of Buddhism to the island. It is the second important Buddhist holiday after Vesak (Buddha Day).
Also, the June Full Moon in 2022 falls on Hindu celebration called Vat Purnima. On this day, married women keep a fast, tie threads around a banyan tree, and pray for the well-being of their husbands.
There are also various names made up by other cultures:
- Chinese: Lotus Moon;
- Celtic: Moon of Horses;
- Wiccan: Dyad Moon;
- Cherokee: Green Corn Moon;
- Southern Hemisphere: Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Long Night’s Moon.
Some NASA employees have their own name for the June Full Moon. They call it the LRO Moon in honor of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched in June 2009.
Will the Strawberry Moon be pink?
Though the name evokes associations with pink and red strawberries, it has nothing to do with the June Full Moon’s color. It will most likely be golden-orange or white — the same color as any other Full Moon. However, it may appear reddish — for the same reason the Sun looks red while rising and setting.
The June Full Moon occurs shortly before the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is on June 21. If observed from the northern latitudes, the Moon hangs low above the horizon. It appears pink or red in this position because its light gets scattered through the atmosphere. Find out what other colors the Moon can be with our fun quiz!
Why is the Strawberry Moon 2022 a Supermoon?
We need to figure out what a Supermoon is to answer this question. In short, a Supermoon occurs when a New or Full Moon closely coincides with the perigee — the Moon’s closest approach to the Earth. On June 14, 2022, at 23:21 GMT, the June Full Moon will be 357,658 kilometers from the Earth. It is close enough to be considered a Supermoon.
Why is this status important? Supermoons appear bigger and more luminous than the “ordinary” Full Moons. However, they are only 6.9% larger and 16% brighter, so it’s not easy to spot the difference with the unaided eye. We can only advise you to look at the Strawberry Supermoon and check for yourself!
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon, called Super Buck Moon, will be on July 13, 2022. Not to miss it, use our infographic listing the dates, times, and names of the Full Moons in 2022. Also, stay tuned for notifications in the Sky Tonight app, and follow us on social media to stay updated on astronomical events!
We wish you clear skies and happy stargazing!
