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Be sure to head out this weekend to see the July full moon!
Known as the Buck Moon, the full moon will reach maximum illumination in the United States at 6:17 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 21. The full moon will still be visible throughout the weekend, from Friday night into Monday morning.
The term “Buck Moon” is a reference to male deer, which are also called bucks. In late spring, male deer begin to grow new antlers, and these new antlers, covered in velvety fur, can be seen in July, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The name “Buck Moon” comes from the Algonquian tribes who lived in what is now the northeastern United States, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
July’s full moon also has other names. Some indigenous groups have named it Salmon moon because its timing aligned with salmon runs, which is when the fish migrate on the rivers every year. Others have called it Thunder moon due to the frequent thunderstorms of the beginning of summer. Europeans refer to the full moon as a There is Moon because the beginning of summer is typically when the hay is made.
This year’s Buck Moon coincides with a significant space moment: the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. As Armstrong descended the ladder to take the first human steps on the moon, said famously: “It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for all of humanity.” More than half a billion people guarded the historical moment on television.
U the next full moon after this weekend it will happen on August 19. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, it will also be visible for about three days, from the morning of August 18 to the morning of August 21, according to NASA.
