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When and How to See Strawberry Moon? Moon Rises June 29 as Final Micro Moon of 2026
June’s full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach peak illumination on June 29, marking the third and final micro moon of 2026 and giving skywatchers across North America a chance to view one of the year’s most distinctive lunar events — even if its name has nothing to do with how it actually looks in the sky.
Not What the Name Suggests
Despite its evocative name, June’s Strawberry Moon is not pink or red unless it’s also a blood moon. The full moon is usually the brightest object in the night sky, but not all full moons are the same. June’s Strawberry Moon is a great example of this variation.
What Makes It a Micro Moon
The Strawberry Moon’s defining characteristic this year comes from its position in the moon’s orbit around Earth. A micro moon occurs when a full moon or a new moon happens at the same time the moon is at apogee, its farthest point in orbit from Earth.
The moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical instead of circular, which means the moon is sometimes closer to Earth, a phenomenon known as perigee, and sometimes farther away, a phenomenon known as apogee. Since the moon is in apogee, it’s approximately 7% smaller than it would normally appear during a typical full moon and about 14% smaller than a supermoon.
When and How to See It
The Strawberry Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:56 p.m. ET on June 29, which is still during daylight hours for everyone in North America. That means the best time to see the full moon is that same evening once the sun has set. The moon is set to rise out of the southeastern sky just after sunset and streak across the southern horizon until it sets in the southwest just before sunrise.
An Unusually Low Position in the Sky
Skywatchers may notice that this year’s Strawberry Moon isn’t terribly high in the sky, and that’s normal. June’s full moon is the lowest full moon of any given year, due to the same mechanics that give us the summer solstice.
The explanation traces back to the Earth’s axial tilt and its relationship to the moon’s position opposite the sun. The Earth is tilted on its axis, and during the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. That means the sun is higher in the sky than it is at other times of the year. This also works with the moon, albeit in reverse, since the moon is always opposite the sun. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the moon, so the moon appears lower in the sky than it normally does.
Slightly Higher Than Last Year’s Record-Low Moon
While this year’s Strawberry Moon will sit unusually low on the horizon, it won’t quite match the extremity of the previous year’s edition. It’s not quite as low as last year’s Strawberry Moon, which was the lowest full moon in decades, but if you’re somewhere with a lot of trees, you may have some trouble finding it.
A Moon That’s Both Smaller and Dimmer Than Usual
Beyond its low position in the sky, this year’s Strawberry Moon carries the added distinction of being one of the smallest and least bright full moons of the year. A micro moon is noticeably smaller and less bright than a supermoon or even a regular full moon. The full moon is still easy to find and the brightest thing in the night sky, but you may have to walk around the block to see it behind the trees in your neighborhood.
The Final Micro Moon Until Next Year
With June 29 marking the third and final micro moon of 2026, skywatchers hoping to catch this particular lunar phenomenon again will need to wait until the next calendar year, when the cycle of perigee and apogee full moons begins anew. The combination of a micro moon coinciding with the lowest full moon position of the year makes this particular Strawberry Moon a relatively subdued, if still visible, event compared to the more dramatic supermoons that tend to draw greater public attention throughout the year.
Why the Name “Strawberry Moon” Persists
Despite having nothing to do with the moon’s actual color or appearance, the Strawberry Moon name has remained a fixture of June’s full moon for generations, tracing back to indigenous and early American naming traditions tied to the seasonal timing of strawberry harvests during the month. That naming convention, shared across many of the year’s full moons, reflects historical observations of seasonal changes in nature rather than any visual characteristic of the moon itself — a detail that often surprises skywatchers expecting to see a moon tinted in shades of red or pink.
What to Expect on Viewing Night
For those planning to observe the Strawberry Moon on June 29, the practical viewing advice remains straightforward despite the moon’s smaller and lower-than-usual appearance. Once the sun sets and the moon rises out of the southeastern sky, it will remain visible as it tracks across the southern horizon throughout the night, setting in the southwest shortly before sunrise. Given its reduced size and lower position in the sky this year, those in areas with significant tree cover or obstructed horizons may need to find a clearer vantage point, such as an open field or elevated location, to get the best possible view of the rising moon.
With the final micro moon of 2026 set to occur on June 29, attention will eventually turn to the year’s remaining full moons, including any potential supermoons that may appear later in the year as the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth during subsequent full moon cycles. For now, skywatchers across North America have a clear window on the evening of June 29 to catch this year’s Strawberry Moon — a celestial event made notable less by its name or color, and more by the unusual combination of factors placing it both unusually low and unusually small in the summer night sky.
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Manhattan Institute expert Adam Lehodey says NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s outreach to Wall Street leaders signals a recognition that New York cannot fund progressive priorities without keeping businesses and wealthy investors in the city.
Billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin is encouraging New York’s business leaders to take on socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, warning that the city’s future could be at risk if employers and investors stay quiet.
“They need to find their voice and fight for their city,” Griffin said Thursday at a Manhattan event, according to Bloomberg.
“My advice is to speak up. What’s the worst that’s going to happen? It will be that New York empties of talent and that’s a catastrophe. If the mayor wants to say a few words about you, your record speaks for itself: You create jobs, you create value and you pay taxes.”
MAMDANI’S WALL STREET COURTSHIP SPARKS CRITICISM OF ANTI-BILLIONAIRE AGENDA
The Citadel founder is clashing with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over taxes targeting the ultra-wealthy and intensifying crime, reviving the same tensions that drove him to pull his business and billions out of Chicago. (Spencer Platt/Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images / Getty Images / Getty Images)
Griffin’s remarks mark the latest chapter in an ongoing clash between Wall Street’s billionaire class and Mamdani, whose proposals to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and luxury property owners have drawn fierce criticism from business leaders concerned about the city’s economic competitiveness.
The financial titan, whose net worth is estimated at $48.3 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, argued that New York’s corporate leaders should focus on the long-term future of the city rather than short-term political battles.
BILLIONAIRE KEN GRIFFIN SAYS CITADEL’S CHICAGO EXODUS WAS ‘NOT HARD,’ CITES CRIME, TAXES
“Everything should be viewed through the lens of, Citadel will be here far longer than he’ll be mayor,” Griffin said.
The comments come as Griffin and Mamdani appear to be cautiously opening a dialogue after months of public sparring over taxes, wealth and the city’s business climate.
The socialist mayor recently reached out to Griffin after previously criticizing the billionaire hedge fund manager over his Manhattan penthouse and personal wealth. Mamdani notably stood outside Griffin’s luxury property to promote his proposal to raise taxes on second homes in New York City worth more than $5 million.
CHICAGO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KEN GRIFFIN TURNS ON A CITY, NOW MAMDANI MAY FIND OUT
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “pied-a-terre” wealth tax on luxury properties ignites a contentious debate, drawing strong criticism from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.
The outreach comes as some business leaders warn New York risks alienating major employers and investors — a concern Griffin has raised before in another major American city.
The tensions have fueled concerns among some business leaders that New York could follow a path similar to Chicago, where Griffin spent years criticizing crime, taxes and public policy before moving Citadel’s headquarters to Miami in 2022. The relocation marked the departure of one of the financial industry’s most influential firms and underscored the economic impact that can follow when a major corporate player leaves a major city.
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Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin described New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “tax the rich” video targeting him as a “creepy and weird” political advertisement. (Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Griffin has repeatedly pointed to Florida’s business climate as a model and warned that policies targeting high earners and businesses could make New York less competitive.
Griffin said he plans to talk to Mamdani “at some point in the months ahead.”
“Let’s see where he is on the state of policy at that time,” he said. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Micron's $1,700 Setup Emerges
Cash Builder Opportunities (aka Nick Ackerman) is a former fiduciary and a registered financial advisor with 14 years of investing experience.He is the leader of the investing group Cash Builder Opportunities, where his specific focus is on closed-end funds, dividend growth stocks, and option writing as an attractive way to achieve income. He shares model portfolios and research to help investors make better decisions, via his Investing Group’s active chat room.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of OKE, SOBO, VICI, SBUX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
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