June 25-28, 2026: Watch the Strawberry Moon pass Scorpius during late June. Follow the moon’s changing position near Antares and other stars of the Scorpion after sunset.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus as an Evening Star
Moon, Scorpius
The bright Strawberry Moon, the summer season’s first Full Moon, appears with Scorpius after sunset. The Full Moon phase occurs when the lunar orb is opposite the sun on June 29 at 6:57 p.m. Central Time.
Scorpius is in the southeastern sky during the early evening hours. Besides Antares, the Scorpion’s brightest star that marks the arachnid’s heart, the other stars are largely muted by the bright moonlight. Use a binocular to see them.
Highlights
Here’s what to look for an hour after sunset.
• June 25: The gibbous moon, 87% illuminated, is nearly 25° above the southern horizon. It is 9.2° to Zubenelgenubi’s lower left and nearly 20° to Antares’ upper right.
• June 26: The moon, 93% illuminated, is 20° above the south-southeast horizon and 6.0° to Antares’ upper right.
• June 27: The gibbous moon, 97% illuminated, is 15° above the south-southeast horizon, 6.1° to Antares’ lower left.
• June 28: Nearing the Full Moon phase, the lunar orb is 10° above the southeast horizon and nearly 20° to Antares’ lower left.
Follow the moon as it passes Scorpius in the southeastern sky after sunset.
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