Full moons occur when the Sun lights up the moon entirely — and it only occurs once a month.

June’s Full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will soon appear in our skies.

It will be the sixth full moon of the year, following January’s Wolf Moon, February’s Snow Moon, March’s Worm Moon, April’s Pink Moon, and May’s Flower Moon.

Here is all you need to know about the lunar cycles.

What is a full moon?

A full moon is a phase of the Moon – phases are affected by the relative positions of the Moon, Sun, and Earth.

We only see the parts of the Moon that are lit by the Sun, as well as light from distant stars and the reflection of light from the Earth. But the Sun provides most of the light that allows us to see the Moon.

A full moon occurs when the Moon is on the other side of the Earth to the Sun because this allows the Moon to be fully lit.

When is the full moon in June 2023?

The full Strawberry Moon will reach its peak at 4.41am on June 4.

How many full moons are there a year and what is a blue moon?

Most years see 12 full moons but, around every two to three years, there will be 13 full moons in one calendar year. This 13th moon is known as a blue moon, and there is one in August this year. A blue moon can also be used to refer to the second full moon that occurs within one calendar month.

Full moon dates in 2023

• January 6: Wolf Moon

• February 5: Snow Moon

• March 7: Worm Moon

• April 6: Pink Moon

• May 5:Flower Moon

• June 3: Strawberry Moon

• July 3: Buck Moon

• August 1: Sturgeon Moon

• August 30: Blue Moon

• September 29: Harvest Moon

• October 28: Hunter’s Moon

• November 27: Beaver Moon

• December 26: Cold Moon

What are the names of the full moons?

The full moons’ nicknames mostly come from Native American culture. Many tribes assigned either 12 or 13 full moons to the year, and these names were later adopted by colonial Americans, before entering popular culture.

January

January’s full moon is called the Wolf Moon. It’s named after the howling of wolves, hungry after the lack of food available in midwinter. January’s full moon has other nicknames, including old moon and ice moon.

February

The full moon in February is called the Snow Moon, after the snowy weather in North America. February’s full moon is also known as the Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March

March’s full moon is known as the Worm Moon. Native Americans named this moon after the worm trails that would appear in the ground after it thawed at the end of winter. This moon is also called the Chaste Moon, Death Moon, and Crust Moon.

April

April’s full moon is called the Pink Moon – named after an early blooming wildflower. Other cultures call April’s moon the Egg Moon and the Fish Moon.

May

May’s full moon is known by many cultures as the Flower Moon, after the flowers that bloom in spring. It’s also called the Hare Moon and the Milk Moon, among other names.

June

June’s full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon, named after the harvesting of strawberries during this month. In Europe, it’s known as the Rose Moon, and it is known as the Hot Moon in other cultures.

July

The full moon in July is known as the Buck Moon, which got its name from the time of year when male deer begin to regrow their antlers. It’s also known as the Thunder Moon and Hay Moon.

August

The full moon in August is known as the Sturgeon Moon by North American fishing tribes, because the fish species appear during this month. It’s also known as the Green Corn Moon and the Red Moon. There will also be a second moon, a blue moon, this year, on the night of August 1 - 2.

September

September’s full moon is called the Full Corn Moon, because this is the time of year when crops are gathered, following the summer season. It’s also known as the Harvest Moon as it is often the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox.

October

The full moon in October is called the Hunter’s Moon, as October is the preferred moon to hunt deer and foxes who are no longer able to hide in the crops. It’s also called the Travel Moon and the Dying Grass Moon.

November

November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon. Some people believe it’s named after the time of year Native Americans set up beaver traps, while others believe it comes from the time of year beavers build their winter dams.

December

December’s full moon is known as the Cold Moon, for the cold weather that winter brings. It’s also known as the Long Night Moon.