July's full moon will reach its peak illumination soon, and backyard astronomers may have to get up a little early to enjoy it.
The full moon, known as the Buck Moon, will reach its peak on Wednesday, July 29, at 10:36 am ET, according to the Farmer's Almanac. While the moon does peak in the morning, it will still look full for a day or two before and after it peaks.
Here's what else to expect for July's full moon.
What is happening in the sky besides the Buck Moon?
July's full moon is occurring while the following meteor showers are ongoing, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS):
- Southern Delta Aquarids
- Alpha Capricornids
- Perseids
The Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids will reach their peaks, meaning the showers will produce the most meteors or shooting stars around this time, the day after the full moon peaks, according
to AMS. Unfortunately, backyard astronomers hoping to catch a glimpse of the showers will have a harder time viewing them due to the moon's light.
But the Perseids meteor shower, which is considered one of the best meteor showers of the year, according to NASA, peaks on the night of the new moon on Wednesday, Aug. 12, according to AMS. Those hoping to catch a glimpse should get a better view as light from the moon will interfere very little.
Why is it called the Buck Moon?
Full and new moons' names are traditionally used to track the seasons, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. And July's moon is no different.
It's called the Buck Moon because male deer, known as bucks, will see significant growth in their antlers throughout this time, according to the almanac.
While their antlers begin to grow between April and May, bucks will begin their peak growth season, and their antlers can grow as much as 2 inches each week throughout June and July, according to Mississippi State University.
Bucks will regrow their antlers every year ahead of mating season, and then shed them during the late winter, after mating season is over, the university says on its website.
The moon's nicknames, like April's Pink Moon, May's Flower Moon, or June's Strawberry Moon, originated from Native Americans', Colonial Americans', and other cultures' names for the moon.
Other names for the Buck Moon
July's moon is known by multiple names, including the following, according to the Farmer's Almanac and Earth Sky:
- Thunder Moon
- Hay Moon
- Salmon Moon
- Halfway Summer Moon
- Raspberry Moon
How to get the best view of the full moon
To get the best view of the moon, check local weather forecasts in your area to make sure there won't be heavy cloud cover or storms.
If you're going to go stargazing the night of the full moon, make sure to do the following:
- Bring a blanket, a sleeping bag or a chair to sit or recline on.
- Check the weather and cloud cover in your area to ensure conditions are optimal for viewing the moon.
- Dress appropriately for the weather.
- Use bug spray to prevent mosquito bites.
List of remaining full moons for 2026
Here are the rest of the full moon dates for 2026, according to the Farmer's Almanac:
- Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse): Peaks Aug. 28 at 12:18 a.m. ET
- Harvest Moon: Peaks Sept. 26 at 12:49 p.m. ET
- Hunter's Moon: Peaks Oct. 26 at 12:12 a.m. ET
- Beaver Moon (super moon): Peaks Nov. 24 at 9:53 a.m. ET
- Cold Moon (super moon): Peaks Dec. 23 at 8:28 p.m.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: July's Buck Moon peak is set to steal the show
