Strawberry Moon to be visible tonight: Its name comes from the harvest calendar, not its color

The "Strawberry Moon," known as the traditional full moon of June, will be visible in the sky tonight. However, contrary to what its name might suggest, the Moon is not expected to turn a strawberry-red color.

The full moon will be visible across most of Europe starting in the evening hours. According to sources, the Moon is expected to reach its peak at 01:57 (CEST) on Tuesday morning. It is projected to rise above the horizon around 21:41 in London, 22:13 in Paris, and approximately 21:55 in Berlin and Madrid.

The name "Strawberry Moon" comes from the traditions of the Algonquin and other Native American peoples, who used the June full moon as a seasonal marker for the wild strawberry harvest. This name, also used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac, became widespread over time.

In different cultures, other names have been given to the June full moon. In Cherokee tradition, it was called the "Green Corn Moon," among the Cree people the "Moon of Leaves," and among the Tlingit people the "Birth Moon." In China, the "Lotus Moon" stood out, while in Europe, the "Honey Moon," associated with haymaking and honey harvesting, became prominent.

HOW WILL IT LOOK TONIGHT?

Tonight, the Moon is expected to appear in golden and orange tones rather than red. This is because the moonlight, when near the horizon, passes through a thicker layer of the atmosphere before reaching the observer. The physical effect that turns sunsets into warm colors works similarly here.

This year's Strawberry Moon also qualifies as a "micro-moon." It is stated that the Moon will be approximately 406,267 kilometers away from Earth, which is about 21,000 kilometers further than average. For this reason, it will appear about 7 percent smaller and 10 percent dimmer compared to a typical full moon.

Recorded as the second smallest full moon of 2026, this celestial event will be only 102 kilometers closer to Earth than last month's Blue Moon. For comparison, full moons referred to as "supermoons" can appear about 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter.

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the Moon will follow one of its lowest paths in decades. This is because the full moon occurs just a few days after the summer solstice. While the Sun approaches its highest positions in the sky, the full moon remains lower due to the opposing geometry.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the situation is reversed; tonight's full moon will be seen as the highest full moon of the year. The best time for observation will be after sunset, when the Moon rises above the southeastern horizon and the atmosphere accentuates the golden tones.

There is one more notable detail for astronomy enthusiasts: the Strawberry Moon will be positioned in front of the "Teapot" asterism in the Sagittarius constellation tonight. This region is known for its proximity to the line of sight toward the center of the Milky Way.