July's full 'buck' moon rises Wednesday, experts advise viewing tips

The full moon known as the buck moon will be at its brightest at 10:36 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It will rise in the east and remain fully illuminated before and after the peak time.

NASA planetary geologist Noah Petro said observers need only be in a location free of bright lights with a clear view of the sky. The moon will appear low in the northern hemisphere and higher, though not as high as June’s full moon, for southern-hemisphere viewers, EarthSky reported.

The name “buck moon” refers to the period when male deer grow antlers, while Indigenous groups have their own names, such as the Dakota’s “moon when the chokecherries are ripe” and the Cree’s “feather moulting moon,” per The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to give the moon a reddish or orange hue for observers in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Planetary Science Institute senior scientist Pamela Gay explained that the same atmospheric scattering that dulls daytime blue skies will affect moonlight.

Petro linked the event to recent space milestones, noting that the Artemis II mission in April and the upcoming anniversary of Apollo 11 highlight humanity’s connection to the lunar surface. He emphasized the educational value of watching the moon.

The buck moon follows the trajectory of the sun’s path from six months earlier and later, mirroring the January sun arc, EarthSky added. Five additional full moons are scheduled for 2026, with November and December featuring supermoons that will appear larger and brighter.