Jonathan Newton for The Washington Post
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June's full moon, rising early on Wednesday, will be the sixth of the year and a particularly special one, hanging low in the sky.
Peak illumination of the strawberry moon will arrive in Washington at 3:43 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday. But it will be close enough to full on Tuesday evening that you won't be able to tell the difference if observing with the naked eye.
In Washington, the moon rises at 8:32 p.m. in the southeastern sky on Tuesday. In New York City, it will do so at 8:26 p.m. in the southeastern sky. In Los Angeles, it will do the same at 8:05 p.m. During the predawn, the moon will linger in the southwestern sky.
June's full moon typically takes a comparatively low path across the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, but 2025 turns that up a few notches.
It is said to be the lowest full moon in decades, according to Earth Sky. We can thank something called a lunar standstill for the deep dip. It occurs in an 18.6-year cycle and affects how high in the sky the moon ends up.
More generally, the moon mimics the sun but in opposition. When the sun is high in the sky, the moon is low and vice versa.
Other names for the strawberry moon include rose moon and hot moon, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. Moon names typically signify ongoing events at the time they appear in the year.
While the strawberry moon's naming comes from Native American tribes - tied to the time of year the wild fruit ripens - the fact that it runs low in the sky also gives it increased odds of having a pinkish or orange hue.
That's because the light from the moon has to pass through more of Earth's atmosphere when it is low on the horizon. This impacts how the light is scattered, allowing more reddish hues while minimizing blues.
Wildfire smoke, dust from Africa and other similar particulates in the air can magnify the effect when they are present.
June is typically an excellent time for moon watching, as nighttime clouds tend to be fewer during summer in most locations, although the hazier conditions of summer can also sometimes linger.
In this case, it appears the cloudiest spots will run from the southern Plains of Texas across the northern Gulf Coast and into portions of the Southeast. Additional cloudier zones may include portions of the Rockies and northern Plains.
Much of the Lower 48 could be mainly in the clear for sky watching. While clouds are a main determinant of how well the moon can be seen, it also helps to escape city lights, which allows increased views of the night sky. Be sure to allow some time - up to 30 minutes - for acclimation to the low-light conditions, especially if observing celestial objects that are dimmer than the moon. Still, in a city, moon watching among key landmarks can offer a memorable view and unique photography options.
The moon isn't the only thing worth looking up for this month. Other sky sights in June include bright evening stars at dusk in the southern sky, a crescent moon crossing Venus on the 21st and an earthshine moon late in the month.