June brought a spectacular sight in the night sky with a photo capturing SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft illuminated by the full moon.

Overview

On June 11, 2025, SpaceX's official account shared a mesmerizing image of the Dragon spacecraft bathed in the glow of the June full moon. The Dragon is the sole spacecraft capable of transporting large cargo from the International Space Station back to Earth, accommodating up to seven passengers on its missions.

Location

The private Dragon spacecraft is stationed at Launch Complex-39A within NASA's Kennedy Space Center situated along the Florida coast.

Significance

This year's June full moon is notably closer to Earth than it has been in almost twenty years, a phenomenon known as "major lunar standstill." This occurrence takes place over a two-year span when the moon's orbit is at its most inclined position compared to Earth's celestial equator, resulting in the moon rising and setting at varying heights along the horizon.

In addition to its proximity, June's full moon is dubbed the "Strawberry Moon" due to its alignment with the strawberry-picking season, as noted by the Old Farmer's Almanac. The moon's luminosity during this phase is a result of its direct opposition to the sun from Earth's perspective, enabling it to reflect sunlight back to our planet.

Further Reading

For more insights on June's full moon and the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, delve into the details as we embark on an eventful summer.