The Strawberry Moon, the seventh full moon of 2026, will be visible in the UK early on June 30. According to BBC's Sky at Night magazine, the moon will rise in the southeast around sunset between June 29 and 30, with peak visibility at 12:56am BST for viewers in the UK, including Cardiff.
Why Is It Called a Strawberry Moon?
The name originates from Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquin tribe, to mark the beginning of wild strawberry season in northeastern North America. Each full moon has a traditional name linked to nature: February's Snow Moon, March's Worm Moon, April's Pink Moon, May's Flower Moon, June's Strawberry Moon, July's Buck Moon, August's Sturgeon Moon, September's Full Corn Moon, October's Hunter's Moon, November's Beaver Moon, and December's Cold Moon.
Will the Moon Look Red?
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon does not appear strawberry-red. However, because it is lower in the sky, it may appear orange or reddish near the horizon. This color is due to Earth's atmosphere scattering shorter blue wavelengths, leaving longer red wavelengths. NASA experts explain: "There's one notable way in which the Moon's appearance is actually different when it's low in the sky. It tends to have a more yellow or orange hue, compared to when it's high overhead. This happens because the Moon's light travels a longer distance through the atmosphere. As it travels a longer path, more of the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light are scattered away, leaving more of the longer, redder wavelengths." Dust and pollution can deepen the reddish color.
The Moon Illusion
Experts note that the moon may appear larger near the horizon due to an optical illusion. The exact reason is not fully understood, but it is linked to how we perceive distance and perspective. In reality, the moon's size does not change.
