Here's how to view this year's Strawberry Moon from the UK
The Moon will light up the sky
30th June 2026 is when viewers in the UK will be able to view the annual Strawberry Moon, which is set to light up the sky and be a real treat.
Throughout the month the Moon goes through phases, and when it is a Full Moon it has a name, depending on the month is appears in. June is the month of the Strawberry Moon, let's take a look at how to view it and when it will be visible.
When is the Strawberry Moon visible?
Every year, the Strawberry Moon will be visible on a different date in June, depending on the phases of the Moon.
The Strawberry Moon, sometimes called the Rose Moon or Mead Moon, is the sixth Full Moon of the year and will be visible on 30th June 12.57am.
Where to look
Unlike stars and meteors, the Moon is very easy to spot in the sky, so if the weather is clear you'll see it! It will be very low on the horizon in the South. As the Moon is so low on the horizon it appears much bigger than when it is high, this is something called the Moon Illusion.
Will the weather allow us to see the Moon?
Despite much of the country having a heatwave recently, the weather has now cooled down and it is likely that much of Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland are likely to have cloud. This means that the best areas for viewing the Strawberry Moon will be in Central and Southern England, and Wales.
What is it?
The Strawberry Moon is the sixth Full moon of the year, following the Wolf Moon, the Snow Moon, the Worm Moon, the Pink Moon and May's Flower Moon.
Despite the name, the Strawberry Moon isn't actually red. June's Full Moon gets its name as it coincides with strawberry picking season in the US.
Other names for the Strawberry Moon
While the name Strawberry Moon relates to strawberry picking in the US, other countries call it a Rose Moon or a Hot Moon.
Take a look through tips for viewing meteors:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Lyra) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Lyrids come from Lyra, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.