Strawberry Moon lights up night sky this week

Have you ever looked up at the moon and seen it glow red or orange? This week, you might see something special in the night sky.

A full moon will appear this week. It is the first full moon of summer. People call it the Strawberry Moon. The name is fun, but it is not about fruit. Long ago, Native Americans gave the moon this name. They used it to mark the time when strawberries were ready to pick.

The moon will be very bright. It will look big and full. You can see it without any special tools. Just go outside at night and look up. The best time to see it is when the moon rises in the evening. Find a place with dark skies, away from city lights. This will help you see it better.

Why does the moon look so bright? The full moon happens when the sun, Earth, and moon are in a straight line. The sun shines on the moon's face. All of that light comes to us on Earth. It is like a big light in the sky.

The Strawberry Moon is special for another reason. In summer, the moon stays high in the sky for a long time. It does not set quickly like in other seasons. This means you have many hours to enjoy it.

Did you know the moon looks different colors sometimes? On some nights, it can look yellow, orange, or even red. Dust and clouds in Earth's air change how we see the moon's color. But the Strawberry Moon is often pale white or soft yellow.

This is a good week to spend time outside. Bring a friend or family member. Point at the moon and share what you see. Maybe you will see clouds move across it, or maybe the sky will be perfectly clear. Either way, the moon will be there, bright and full, just waiting for you to look up.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.