A Very Special Strawberry Moon!

Our island team enjoyed a very special Strawberry Moon on Wednesday night.

A strawberry moon, so-named by Native Americans marking the season when wild strawberries are harvested, describes June’s full moon and marks the start of summer.

In European tradition, the June moon was also sometimes referred to as a “Honey Moon” for its somewhat golden color. It marked a time when marriages were common.

The 2025 strawberry moon was particularly unusual as it coincided with an event called the major “lunar standstill” or “lunistice”….essentially the moon’s equivalent of a solstice where it reaches its most extreme northern and southern points in the sky. This phenomenon occurs only once every 18.6 years. This won’t occur again until 2043.

The moon appeared lower in the sky than usual, enhancing its size and color. When the moon is near the horizon, it often takes on an orange or reddish hue.

Photo credit: Sandra White