The 2026 Strawberry Moon will rise on the evening of June 29, marking the seventh full Moon of the year, according to Sky at Night Magazine. This lunar event is classified as a micromoon because it occurs at the farthest point in the Moon’s orbit from Earth. Because May 2026 featured a rare Blue Moon, this June occurrence stands as the seventh full Moon of the calendar year rather than the traditional sixth.
Why is this year’s Strawberry Moon different?
The 2026 calendar is unusual because it contains 13 full Moons instead of the typical 12. According to Sky at Night Magazine, the inclusion of a second full Moon in May—a Blue Moon—shifted the sequence, making the June full Moon the seventh of the year. While the name “Strawberry Moon” is a traditional moniker reflecting the harvest season for strawberries, the Moon itself will not display a red color due to its name. Any reddish or orange tint observed is purely an atmospheric effect caused by the Moon’s low position in the sky, which scatters blue light.
How to spot the “Scorpion’s Heart”
Observers can use the Moon as a guide to locate the constellation Scorpius, which is often difficult to identify from the Northern Hemisphere. According to Sky at Night Magazine, the bright, reddish star Antares—known as the “scorpion’s heart”—will appear near the Moon throughout the final weekend of June. On Friday, June 26, the nearly-full Moon will sit to the right of Antares. By Saturday, June 27, the Moon’s eastward orbital motion will position it to the left of the star.
What is a micromoon?
A micromoon occurs when the full Moon coincides with the apogee, or the point in the Moon’s orbit farthest from Earth. Because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical rather than a perfect circle, the distance between the Earth and the Moon varies constantly. According to Sky at Night Magazine, this distance variation is why some full Moons appear smaller than others, contrasting with “supermoons,” which occur when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth.
Future trends in amateur astronomy
The increasing accessibility of high-sensitivity digital cameras and tracking mounts, such as the Canon 6D setup used by photographer John Chumack, is changing how amateur astronomers document lunar cycles. As high-resolution imaging becomes more common, the focus has shifted from simple visual observation to capturing specific astronomical alignments, such as the Moon passing through the galactic center of the Milky Way near the Sagittarius “Teapot” asterism. This trend suggests a growing interest in astrophotography as a way to map and share celestial events with a global audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will the Strawberry Moon look like a strawberry? No. It will look like a standard full Moon. Any orange color is caused by the Earth’s atmosphere when the Moon is low on the horizon.
- Why is this the seventh full Moon of 2026? Because a Blue Moon occurred in May, adding an extra cycle to the calendar year.
- What is the best way to photograph the Moon? Use a tracking mount if possible to compensate for the Earth’s rotation, and aim for a location with a clear, flat southern horizon.
The constellation Scorpius never fully rises above the horizon for many observers at northern latitudes, making the nights when the Moon passes through the area the best time to identify the star Antares.
Have you captured a photo of the Strawberry Moon? Share your observations or images with the community by emailing [email protected]. For more updates on upcoming celestial events, subscribe to our newsletter or explore our archive of lunar guides.
