People in several European countries came out to admire the "Strawberry Moon," the first full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which was clearly visible in many cities.
In Vienna, Austria, people traveled to Kahlenberg, the city's highest viewpoint, to await the rising full moon slowly emerging above the horizon in the evening, set against the backdrop of Austria's capital city.
In Lisbon, Portugal, both locals and tourists gathered at popular viewpoints to photograph the moon floating prominently above the Tagus River. When the moon first rose above the horizon, many noticed its orange-golden hue and its unusually large appearance.
Although called the "Strawberry Moon," the moon itself does not have a pink or red color like a strawberry. The name comes from North American indigenous peoples, especially the Algonquin group, who used the June full moon as a signal for harvesting wild strawberries. This name was later popularized through astronomical calendars and is now widely used worldwide.
Astronomers explained that the orange or golden color many observed occurs because the moon is positioned low near the horizon, causing its light to pass through more of Earth's atmosphere than usual. This scatters blue light away, leaving the yellow, orange, or red tones more visible. Additionally, the Moon Illusion makes the moon appear larger near the horizon, even though its actual size does not change.
The June full moon is called by various names in different cultures, such as Honey Moon or Mead Moon in Europe, linked to the honey harvest season, while some regions call it the Rose Moon, reflecting the time when roses are in full bloom.
This year’s Strawberry Moon was also a "micromoon" because it occurred when the moon was farther from Earth than usual, making it slightly smaller than a typical full moon. Nevertheless, when low on the horizon, observers still perceived it as large and striking due to the visual Moon Illusion, making the night another memorable astronomical event for people worldwide.
Source:AP
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