July Full Buck Moon to Reach Peak Illumination

Full Buck Moon Timing

Observers can view the full moon near its peak illumination this week.

This month's full moon, known as the buck moon, will reach its fullest point at approximately 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday, according to EarthSky. At that time, the moon will be below the horizon for people in North America. The best viewing opportunities in this region will be a few hours after sunset, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

"The full moon appears full for about a day on either side of its peak. For example, on the night of the 9th, the moon will look nearly full. Similarly, if missed on the 10th, it will also appear nearly full on the night of the 11th," said Noah Petro, chief of NASA’s Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory.

Origin of the Buck Moon Name

July's full moon is called the buck moon because it coincides with the period when male deer, or bucks, experience rapid antler growth, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Other names for July’s full moon from Indigenous groups reflect the summer season. The Cree, primarily in Canada, refer to it as the molting moon, marking the time when birds shed their feathers. The Tlingit tribe of the Pacific Northwest Coast call it the salmon moon, indicating the seasonal salmon migrations.

Viewing Recommendations

If weather conditions allow, the optimal location to view the moon is an area with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. It is also advisable to avoid locations with bright lights.

Planetary Events in July

No planets will be visible during the full moon. However, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible later in the month, according to NASA.

• On July 21 and 22, Venus and Jupiter will be visible low on the horizon before sunrise. These planets will appear near the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, as well as the star Aldebaran, according to EarthSky. Observers should plan to view the scene early in the morning.
• On July 28, Mars will appear next to the crescent moon and will be visible during the first hour or two after sunset, according to NASA.

July also marks the 60th anniversary of the first successful Mars flyby in 1965. NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft captured images of Mars during this mission, producing the first photographs of another planet from space.

Upcoming Full Moons

There are five more full moons expected this year, with supermoons occurring in October, November, and December.

Here is a list of the remaining full moons in 2025, according to the Farmers’ Almanac:

• August 9: Sturgeon moon
• September 7: Corn moon
• October 6: Harvest moon
• November 5: Beaver moon
• December 4: Cold moon

Lunar and Solar Eclipses in 2025

Two eclipse events are expected as summer concludes.

A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of eastern South America, Alaska, and Antarctica on September 7 and 8, according to Time and Date.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow, aligning the sun, Earth, and the moon. This causes the moon to appear darker or dimmed.

When the moon is in the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere gives the moon a reddish hue, according to London’s Natural History Museum. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a "blood moon."

Two weeks after the total lunar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Australia, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Antarctica on September 21.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon moves between the sun and Earth. In this instance, the moon will not completely block the sun, so only part of the sun’s surface will be obscured, according to NASA. This results in a crescent shape, resembling a "bite" taken out of the sun.