Strawberry Moon to Shine Across the UK With a Rare Moon Illusion Tonight

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The striking Strawberry Moon is set to brighten the night sky across the UK as the first full moon of the summer season. Adding to the spectacle, this year's Strawberry Moon will appear unusually low on the horizon, creating the moon illusion that makes it seem larger than usual.

When does the Strawberry Moon peak?

The full Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination in the early hours of Tuesday, 30 June, though skywatchers can also enjoy its brilliant glow on the evenings of Monday, 29 June, and the following night.

According to BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the summer full moon will peak at:

- London 21:41

- Edinburgh 22:34

- Cardiff 21:55

- Belfast 22:30

- Dublin 22:20

Is the Strawberry Moon pink?

Despite its sweet-sounding name, the Strawberry Moon will not glow pink or red in the night sky. Instead, it earns its name from the traditional strawberry harvesting season in North America, when the fruit reaches peak ripeness, as per the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The tradition of naming full moons dates back centuries, when communities relied on the lunar cycle to keep track of the seasons and the passage of time.

How to get the best view of the Strawberry Moon in the UK?

After a record-breaking heat wave swept across the UK, cooler Atlantic air is expected to bring a welcome change in conditions.

While much of the country will enjoy dry weather and sunny spells during the day on Monday, an approaching low-pressure system will bring thicker clouds and outbreaks of rain by the evening, mainly affecting Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

Clearer skies are expected to linger across the Midlands, Wales and southern England, offering the best chance to view the Strawberry Moon.

2026’s full moon calendar

The Farmer’s Almanac shared the following schedule for upcoming full moons as follows:

Strawberry Moon: Peaks June 29, at 7:57 p.m. ET

Buck Moon: Peaks July 29, at 10:36 a.m. ET

Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse): Peaks Aug. 28, at 12:18 a.m. ET

Harvest Moon: Peaks Sept. 26, at 12:49 p.m. ET

Hunter's Moon: Peaks Oct. 26, at 12:12 a.m. ET

Beaver Moon (super moon): Peaks Nov. 24, at 9:53 a.m. ET

Cold Moon (super moon): Peaks Dec. 23, at 8:28 p.m.

From dazzling planetary pairings and meteor showers to another brilliant full Moon, the coming weeks promise plenty of reasons to keep looking up. Be sure to check out our guide to the night sky events in July to discover all the must-see astronomical highlights throughout the month.

Read: Look Up! Strawberry Moon Hits Peak Tonight

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Look Up! Strawberry Moon Hits Peak Tonight

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