The colorful moons of 2026
Why we call them strawberry, pink and blue moons
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Several full moons in 2026 are drawing attention for their colorful names, but most of these events are tied more to seasonal traditions than actual changes in the moon’s appearance.
Earlier this month, sky watchers witnessed a dramatic blood moon during a total lunar eclipse.
Over the following months, three more full moons with colorful names — pink, blue and strawberry — will appear, although unlike the blood moon these moons don’t change color.
March’s red blood moon
Lunar eclipses are the main times when the moon’s appearance truly changes. This occurs when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, blocking most of the sunlight.
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Some light still passes through Earth’s atmosphere, where shorter wavelengths scatter while longer red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, giving it a reddish glow.
April’s pink moon, May’s blue moon and June’s strawberry moon
April’s full moon, often called the pink moon, does not actually appear pink. The name comes from early springtime blooms, particularly pink wildflowers native to North America.
May will have two full moons, with the second known as a blue moon. Despite the name, the moon will appear its usual color.
The term blue moon is used to describe either the second full moon in a calendar month or, in some cases, the third full moon in a season with four. The phrase “once in a blue moon” comes from how rare these extra full moons are!
June’s strawberry moon is also named after a seasonal event, the time when strawberries are harvested. Like April and May’s moons, it does not involve any noticeable color change in the sky.
When the moon appears different colors
While most of these named moons appear typical, atmospheric conditions can sometimes change how the moon looks.
When the moon is low on the horizon, it may appear orange or yellow because its light travels through a thicker layer of the atmosphere — similar to a sunset or sunrise.
Particles such as dust, smoke, or pollution can further affect its color, occasionally giving the moon a deeper red or even a slightly bluish tint.
I hope you enjoy looking up at the sky over the next three months and catching these full moons.
