Did you miss the latest in the month of looking up? Full strawberry moon

In recent weeks, the skies over Pakistan have drawn more than passing glances. In the beginning of May, they echoed with the sharp roar of jets, a reminder of the most violent turn yet in the country’s long and troubled rivalry with its neighbor. People listened, watched, and wondered what might come next.

Near the month’s end, a different kind of watching began: the patient search for the new moon of Zilhaj. The moon sighting committee met, as it always does, with eyes trained on the western horizon, trying to catch a glimpse that would set the calendar for Eid.

Then came the heatwave – dry, relentless, punishing. Faces turned upward not in hope of rain, but in search of shade, any sign of cloud that might soften the blaze. The sun ruled the sky, and people waited for it to yield.

And finally, on Tuesday night, the skies offered something softer. The full moon rose – bright, round, and calm. The strawberry moon, they called it. Not red, but named for the season. Those who still had wonder in them stepped outside and looked up, not for war, not for weather, not for ritual – but for beauty.

Let’s talk about this last one a little more…

Known as the “Strawberry Moon,” the shiny globe in the night sky mid of the year is generally lower, meaning it’s closer to our home globe, Earth. This year’s full moon was not any different. In fact, it was the lowest full moon in nearly two decades. This also meant that the moon was much less shinier than it would be expected of a general full moon. Pakistan perhaps needed that softness more than we might have realised.

The title – strawberry moon – is sometimes misinterpreted to be indicative of red aura around the moon. But in truth it is only a reference to the timing of this full moon, which coincides with the start of strawberry harvesting in June.

However, some might argue that since this moon is closer to the Earth, its light might also take a reddish color from the earth’s surface.

WHAT IF YOU MISSED IT?

If you want the exact same moment, unfortunately you will have to wait all the way until 2043 to see the strawberry moon, at the same horizon as yesterday’s celestial event. It takes 18.6 years for this rare alignment to occur, according to the moon’s orbit and its inclination cycle.

However, the next full moon otherwise, is just around the corner. The strawberry season’s moon will also be partially visible on the night of July 12 – although you might have to adjust the timings to watch the moon here in Pakistan.

July will bring the Buck Moon, followed by the Sturgeon Moon in August, and the Harvest Moon in September. The best thing about full moons is their quiet promise – they return, steady and unchanged, every month. So if you missed this one, or if you simply want to see it again with different eyes, the next chance is never far.

Also read: How long can sacrificial meat be preserved in fridge?