Living June's Full Strawberry Moon Will Appear Bigger Than Usual—Here's How to See the Rare Moon Illusion The moon reaches peak illumination on the evening of June 21. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 12, 2024 Close Photo: Dag Sundberg / Getty Images Stargazers are in for a treat this month: the first full moon of summer, also called the Strawberry Moon, will reach its peak illumination on Friday, June 21 at 9:08 p.m. EST, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. A full moon occurs when the moon is opposite the sun, as seen by us from Earth, NASA states. Typically full moons rise around sunset and set around sunrise. The moon will look full for a couple of days before it moves into the waning gibbous phase. A Rare Celestial Event Will Create a Temporary Star as Bright as the North Star—Here's How to Spot It June's Strawberry Moon happens the day after the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. This is a rare occurrence, as full moons only occur within a day of the solstices about every 19 to 20 years, according to Space.com. The summer solstice in 2024 occurs on June 20. Because the Strawberry Moon occurs so close to the solstice, which is when the sun is at its highest point of the year, this month's full moon will appear lower and bigger than usual, the Old Farmer's Almanac reports. This phenomenon is known as moon illusion. June's full moon is also sometimes referred to as the Blooming Moon, representing the flowering season, and Green Corn Moon, which suggests that it's time to tend to young crops, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit