Where July’s full buck moon will shine brightest on Thursday
July’s full moon — the first of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere — will reach peak illumination at 4:38 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, with best viewing during the predawn and again after dark in the evening.
Typically called the buck moon, its name derives from Native American tribes in reference to the growth of antlers on male deer this time of year. Among other monikers, thunder moon is also a popular name, due to it falling near the peak of summertime coverage of those volatile storms.
The moon rises in the southeast sky on Thursday evening around 9 p.m. in both D.C. and San Francisco, with local times varying somewhat depending on location. It will be low in the southwest sky around dawn Thursday, and it stays above the horizon about an hour later into Friday morning.
Conditions for viewing appear best in the western states, parts of Texas and the South, and also the Great Lakes. Widespread cloudiness may impact locations such as the Upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic. Even in cloudy spots, glimpses are often possible.
Overall, summer viewing of the moon tends to be easier than other times of year. Clouds will often dissipate at night in the absence of daytime heating.
When it comes to nighttime sky gazing, giving your eyes 30 minutes to acclimate to dark conditions and seeking places with the least amount of light pollution will greatly enhance the experience, as will a way to stay comfortable. Of course, a full moon is bright enough that eye acclimation is unnecessary before giving it a long gander. And in the case of the moon, architecture or other structures can make for especially striking views.
About a day on each side of the full moon will still have the appearance of full to the naked eye. There’s a little wiggle room if you miss peak illumination.
A fun fact about this full moon is that its “path mimics the sun’s daytime path from six months ago, or in six months from now,” according to EarthSky.
The January sun is as low rider on the horizon; a main reason for difficulty in warming up during the heart of winter. In similar fashion the July full moon stays low in the sky compared to other full moons across the year.
While the best time to view the moon is often considered to be shortly after it rises above the horizon or as it nears it during moonset, due to illusions making it appear closer and larger than it is, the low-riding nature of summer full moons prolongs the effect. It can also help add color to the moon as it is viewed through more atmosphere and haze low in the sky compared to when it is higher above our heads.
The buck moon is the farthest full moon from the sun of the year, as our nearest star reached its distant point from Earth near the start of July.
Beyond the full moon, other good reasons to look up this month include bright planets through July, like Venus and Saturn, plus the Southern Delta Aquariids late in the month. It’s also a great time of year to spot the International Space Station sailing by.