여름의 시작을 알리는 딸기달이 오늘밤 떠오른다

The moon does not change color or size overnight. Yet once or twice each year, people give full moons special names based on the season. Tonight, something beautiful happens—the Strawberry Moon rises.

The Strawberry Moon is simply the first full moon of summer. The name comes from old farming traditions. In early summer, strawberries ripen and farmers harvest them. People noticed that this full moon arrived right around harvest time, so they called it the Strawberry Moon. The name stuck, and now millions of people use it today.

This moon will reach its peak brightness in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 30 June. Peak brightness does not mean the moon looks bigger or redder—it just means the moon is directly opposite the sun from Earth's perspective. At that moment, sunlight hits the entire face of the moon that faces us. This is when the moon shines at its strongest. However, you can see the Strawberry Moon any time during the night. You do not need special equipment or glasses. Your eyes are enough.

One surprise about the Strawberry Moon: it might not look strawberry-colored at all. The moon usually appears white or pale yellow. On rare nights when smoke or dust fills the air, the moon can look orange or reddish. But most of the time, the color comes from imagination and tradition, not from nature itself. The name is poetic, but the science is simple.

Why do people care about full moons? Part of the reason is history. Before electric lights existed, the full moon was important for travelers and farmers. Bright moonlight let people work or journey safely at night. Ancient cultures built calendars around the moon's cycles. Today, we have electric lights everywhere, yet the full moon still captures our attention. It connects us to the sky, to nature, and to thousands of years of human tradition.

If you step outside tonight, look upward. The Strawberry Moon will be waiting. You do not need to know astronomy or stay up late. Just find a quiet spot away from bright lights, let your eyes adjust for a minute or two, and observe. You might notice how the moon's light changes the color of the night sky. You might feel small and peaceful under its glow. That simple experience—looking up and wondering—is why people have watched the moon for so long.

What would you do if you had an hour under the Strawberry Moon tonight?

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.