Social media may be abuzz with talk of tonight’s unique lunar phenomenon, but most of Texas is likely to miss out on the fun.
Why? Clouds.
Tuesday night will see June’s full moon, frequently called the “strawberry moon.” The name refers not to its color, but to the ripeness of the red berries this time of year. According to a 2023 NASA post celebrating the strawberry moon’s annual appearance, the name originates with the Algonquin tribes in the northeastern United States.
This year’s strawberry moon will be unique because of how low it is expected to hang in the sky. The rotation of the moon’s angled orbit exists on an 18.6-year cycle and recently peaked in January 2025, according to EarthSky. That peak, called a Major Lunar Standstill, will make the otherwise already low June full moon appear even lower on the horizon.
The moon is expected to reach peak fullness at 2:44 a.m. CT, but most Texans might not be able to view it. The region’s recent rainstorms have kept cloud cover relatively thick, limiting the visibility of tonight’s moon.
D-FW residents might be able to sneak a peek around 9 p.m., when the clouds are forecast to be thinnest. After that, clouds are expected to get thicker again as storms move into the area early Wednesday morning.
Much of the United States is expected to have clearer skies, but clouds may also be a problem for the western and eastern coasts, as well as some areas along the Rocky Mountains.