JACKSON, Wyo. — June’s full moon also known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach peak illumination tomorrow, June 14 at about 5:52 a.m in Jackson Hole.
The full moon is also a supermoon this month, meaning the moon will appear bigger and brighter tomorrow because the moon is near its closest approach to Earth. To be a supermoon the moon is less than 360,000 kilometers (ca. 223,694 miles) from the center of Earth.
Tonight the moon will be nearly full with 97% illumination, rising at 8:45 p.m.; tomorrow, the moon will be at 99% illumination rising at 10:01 p.m.
The best time to see the full moon is right after moonrise when the moon is close to the horizon, appearing biggest and brightest.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others, called the entire June lunar month The Strawberry Moon, to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. The Haida term Berries Ripen Moon reflects this as well. June is a time of great abundance during early summer, with flowers blooming, and fruit ripening.
Other names for the June full moon include Blooming Moon, by the Anishinaabe, Green Corn Moon by the Cherokee and Hoer Moon by the Western Abenaki. These names suggest the flowing season and young crops that begin growing in June.
The Tlingit call June’s full moon the Birth moon, to align with the birth of animals in the Pacific Northwest. The Cree used the terms Egg Laying Moon and Hatching Moon, another nod to the new life June brings.
Some European names for June’s full moon include the Honey Moon and the Mead Moon. Traditionally June is the month of marriage, named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. The Honey Moon may be tied to the “honeymoon’ that follows marriage.
