To add to its rarity, the Buck Moon occurs near Earth’s aphelion—the point when the planet is farthest from the sun. This makes the moon farthest from the sun it will be in all of 2025, though this won’t be visible to the naked eye.
Read more from Space.com and Forbes.
Why It’s Called the “Buck Moon”
Traditionally, July’s full moon is known as the Buck Moon because it’s the time of year when male deer (bucks) begin growing new antlers.
In Europe, it’s also called the “Hay Moon” as it appears during the summer hay harvest. Some Native American tribes also refer to it as the “Thunder Moon” due to seasonal summer storms.
The Buck Moon typically takes on a golden or reddish hue shortly after rising, a result of Rayleigh scattering—the same effect that creates red sunsets.
What to Observe During the Full Moon
Although the full moon washes out shadows and makes some surface detail harder to see, it’s the perfect time to admire:
- The lunar maria (dark plains formed by ancient lava flows)
- The Tycho Crater, with its bright rays radiating across the southern region
- The Apollo mission landing sites, especially timely as July 2025 marks the 56th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic lunar landing
Using a telescope, especially a 6-inch scope, will reveal more detail, but even the naked eye can pick out large features and admire the moon’s grandeur.
Look Up and Enjoy the Show
If you miss it on July 10, don’t worry—the moon will appear nearly full-on July 9 and 11 as well. Be sure to check timeanddate.com or in-the-sky.org for accurate moonrise times in your location.
