The first full moon of summer, known as the strawberry moon, will illuminate the southeastern sky on Monday evening. The exact timing of the moonrise varies by location: in Washington, it will rise at 8:53 p.m. local time, while Miami residents can expect it at 8:24 p.m. In Chicago, the moon will appear at 8:49 p.m., and Los Angeles will see it at 8:26 p.m.

Despite its name, the strawberry moon will not actually appear pink or different from a typical full moon. This term originates from Native American Algonquian tribes, who used it to signify the season when strawberries begin to ripen, as noted by the Old Farmer's Almanac.

This full moon will occur near apogee, the point in its orbit where it is farthest from Earth. On Sunday night, it will be approximately 252,215 miles away, a significant difference from June 14, when it was at perigee, just 221,952 miles from our planet. The distance affects how large the moon appears; thus, the strawberry moon won't look particularly large. However, it will seem larger than usual when it is near the horizon during moonrise or moonset due to an optical illusion.

Stargazers have exciting events to anticipate in the coming months. The full moon in July, known as the buck moon, is scheduled for the 29th. Additionally, July marks the beginning of eclipse season. A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, affecting parts of eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain. During this event, the moon will completely obscure sunlight, creating darkness and revealing the sun's faint corona against the backdrop of space.

This eclipse coincides with a new moon, when the moon and sun align in the sky, rendering the moon invisible from Earth. This darkness will actually benefit stargazers, as it will enhance visibility for the Perseid meteor shower on the night of August 13.