A rare full Strawberry Moon will dazzle Canadians this week and here’s why it’s extra special

Cross your fingers for a clear evening, Canada, because the full Strawberry Moon will soon light the night.

A sweet name, for a sweet sight

An annual display enjoyed by stargazers in cities from coast to coast, June’s full moon is beautiful and bright, but unfortunately, not pinkish-red as its name would imply.

“This ‘Strawberry Moon’ name has been used by Native American Algonquian tribes that live in the northeastern United States as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples to mark the ripening of ‘June-bearing’ strawberries that are ready to be gathered,” it says on The Old Farmers’ Almanac.

“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.”

The big event

If, of course, you’re disappointed, you will not be for long. While it will not be a different colour, this particular event will actually showcase the “lowest full moon in decades”, according to Earth’s Sky. 

At 3:44 a.m. EDT, our celestial neighbour will reach peak illumination, hanging extremely close to the horizon.

The reason? The Major Lunar Standstill of 2025, an incredible cycle that changes how the Moon moves through the sky every 18.6 years.

As part of this event, the moon will get pulled down a little by the sun, making the already low June moon even lower.

If you’d like to see it for yourself, we’d recommend heading outdoors, away from all of the bright lights of the city, and finding a place that does not have an obstructed view of the horizon line.

Good luck and enjoy, folks!

It’s going to be an incredible evening.

Strawberry Moon over Canada

When: Tuesday, June 10 to 11, 2025
Time: 3:44 a.m. (peak illumination)

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