It’s that time of the month again when the moon eats too many carbs at its favorite delicatessen and becomes full. (Okay, that’s not the exact science behind it, but it’s a relatable metaphor.) What actually happens is the moon, Earth, and sun align, with the Earth becoming the sandwich meat.
July’s full moon is known as the “Buck Moon,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and it will show off this week, peaking on Thursday, July 10. Let’s wax and wane about bucks before getting into how best to see this nighttime spectacular.
The buck stops here
Judging by popular culture, it would appear that female deer, or does, have slightly better publicists. There’s the catchy Sound of Music ditty “Do-Re-Mi” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, which celebrate the creatures. In Disney’s Bambi, the buck or—Great Prince of the Forest—is an absentee father who only steps up in absolute crises.
However, bucks get the final word in July: There are no full moons named after a doe.
Why is the July moon called the Buck Moon?
Because this is the time of year that the male deer’s impressive antlers reach their full size, hence the name Buck Moon. Every year, bucks repeat a cycle of growth and shredding of these multipurpose tools. Antlers help bucks attract a mate and defend themselves. Once they shed, smaller animals even gnaw on them to get their needed calcium.
When is the best time to see the Buck Moon?
Now that we have established that bucks have a cool factor, let’s get into how to see their namesake full moon.
The orb will reach peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 10.
If you are able to look below the horizon at that time, stick around to watch it rise into the sky. For exact moonrise and moonset times in your area, use this tool from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
If you aren’t out of the office at peak illumination, never fear. The moon will appear full to the naked eye a couple of days after the actual day.