Author: Daisy Dobrijevic

A restless Earth-facing sunspot unleashed a powerful X-class solar flare on June 30, triggering radio blackouts across parts of North America.

The X1.1 solar flare erupted from sunspot region AR4479, peaking at 4:50 p.m. EDT (2050 GMT) according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

The intense burst of X-rays released during the eruption reached Earth in just over 8 minutes, triggering strong (R3) radio blackouts across the daylight side of Earth. This mainly affected high-frequency radio users across parts of North America who may have experienced temporary signal degradation or brief communication outages while the flare was at its strongest.

The eruption also launched a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a huge cloud of magnetized solar plasma hurled into space. Initial observations suggested most of the material was traveling northward, limiting the chances of a significant Earth impact.

However, after further analysis, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm watch for July 3, indicating that at least part of the CME could land Earth with a significant blow.

Will we see the northern lights?

When Earth-directed, CMEs can interact with our planet's magnetic field and spark geomagnetic storms, which can produce dazzling northern lights displays.

A G2-level storm is capable of pushing the northern lights farther south than normal. According to NOAA, auroras could become visible across some northern and upper Midwestern U.S. states, from New York to Idaho, provided skies are dark and clear.

Exactly how impressive the display becomes will depend on the strength of the CME and, crucially, the orientation of its embedded magnetic field when it arrives. If conditions are favorable, the natural light show could provide an extra helping of "fireworks" just in time for the July 4 weekend.

What are solar flares?

Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy released when magnetic fields around sunspots become twisted and reconnect. They are ranked using five classes — A, B, C, M and X — with X-class flares representing the most powerful eruptions.

What are CMEs?

CMEs behave a little differently. Unlike the radiation from a solar flare, which reaches Earth at the speed of light, these clouds of charged particles typically take one to three days to reach us. If they arrive in the right magnetic orientation, they can disturb Earth's magnetic field and trigger geomagnetic storm conditions.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. EDT on July 1 to reflect NOAA's latest forecast, including the issuance of a G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm watch for July 3 following further analysis of the accompanying coronal mass ejection.

The first full moon of summer, June's Strawberry Moon, wowed skywatchers worldwide with a spectacular display.

June's full moon was the lowest-hanging full moon of the year for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. That's because a full moon always sits opposite the sun in the sky. During the summer solstice that just passed on June 21, the sun was following its highest path of the year; that means this full moon took the opposite route, skimming low across the southern sky.

It rose in the southeast, remained low above the horizon throughout the night and set in the southwest, delighting photographers around the world. Here are some of the best photos.

Photographer Davide Pischettola captured the Strawberry Moon behind the sailing ship Nave Italia in the Port of Molfetta, Italy, on June 29, 2026.

The June Full moon rises behind the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City in this vibrant image captured by photographer Gary Hershorn.

Hershorn was also in the right place at the right time to capture this well-positioned photograph of the Strawberry Moon atop the Empire State Building.

Even Lady Liberty appeared to embrace the Strawberry Moon in another striking image by Hershorn, with the full moon seemingly cradled in the Statue of Liberty's hand.

Meanwhile, in California, photographer Tayfun Coskun captured the Strawberry Moon emerging above San Francisco Bay in dramatic fashion.

The Strawberry Moon peeked through a thin layer of cloud as it rose above an ornate rooftop in Meishan, China.

The rich orange Strawberry Moon looks particularly striking in this image captured in Qingzhou, China, on June 29, 2026.

Photographer Robert Nemeti captured this dark and moody image of the Strawberry Moon rising above a Reformed Church in Abaújvár, Hungary, from a vantage point just across the border near Kechnec, Slovakia.

A glowing Strawberry Moon rises behind the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion in this remarkable image captured by photographer Ayhan Mehmet.

Photographer Veysel Altun captured the June full moon rising above a dolphin sculpture on the waterfront in Samsun, Turkiye.

A curious feline stole the spotlight as photographer Osmancan Gurdogan captured the Strawberry Moon rising over the skyline of Istanbul, Turkiye.

If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides for the best binocular deals and the best telescope deals are here to help. Interested in capturing the night sky? Check out our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

Fancy taking a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.

Editor's note: Wow, the Strawberry Moon 2026 certainly served up quite the treat! We've rounded up some of our favorite photos captured by skywatchers worldwide. If you didn't catch it last night, don't worry; it will still appear full for another night or two.

Get ready to see the first full moon of summer as the stunning Strawberry Moon rises tonight (June 29).

The moon officially reaches its full phase at 7:57 p.m. EDT (2357 GMT) on June 29 when it sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky and appears fully illuminated. While that will mark the exact moment of the full moon, our lunar neighbor will appear bright and round for a night or two before and after.

June's full moon will be the lowest-hanging full moon of the year. That's because it occurs close to the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the daytime sky. As a full moon always appears opposite the sun, it follows the opposite path across the sky, tracing the year's lowest arc.

Look east shortly after sunset to watch the Strawberry Moon climb into the evening sky among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius.

June's full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon, a name linked to the short strawberry harvesting season traditionally observed by Native American tribes. Other names for June's full moon include the Rose Moon, Hot Moon and Mead Moon, according to Time and Date.

Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon won't appear pink. However, it may take on a golden or orange hue as it rises. This happens because moonlight must pass through a thicker layer of Earth's atmosphere when the moon is low on the horizon, scattering shorter wavelengths of light and allowing warmer colors to dominate.

You may also notice the moon appearing unusually large near the horizon. This is due to a phenomenon known as the moon illusion, a trick of perception that makes the moon seem bigger when viewed alongside distant landscape features.

If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binocular deals and the best telescope deals can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event.

Editor's Note: If you snap a photo of the full moon and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.