The July full moon occurs at 10:36 a.m. EDT (1436 GMT) on July 29, when the lunar disk appears fully lit as it shines opposite the sun in Earth’s sky.
The July full moon is often called the “Buck Moon“, to reflect the time of the year when young male deer grow out their antlers in the northern hemisphere and is the first full moon of summer, occurring soon after the 2026 summer solstice.
When to see the July full moon
Look to the east at sunset on July 29 to catch the full Buck Moon as it climbs silently into the early summer sky, veiling the nearby stars of the constellation Capricornus behind the glare of its moonlight.
You may notice the lunar disk appear particularly large in the hour following moonrise. This phenomenon is known as the “Moon Illusion”, wherein our brains trick us into thinking an object in the sky is bigger than it really is as it rests low on the horizon, with objects nearby to provide context.
Earth’s moon could also take on an eye-catching yellow-orange color while close to the horizon, as an effect called Rayleigh scattering deflects the blue wavelengths of its light, while allowing the longer red wavelengths to travel through the atmosphere more easily.
The table below displays local full moon timings for when the moon is 100% illuminated for a selection of cities spread across the globe (note local moonrise and moonset times will vary depending on your location):
|
City |
Local time |
|---|---|
|
New York |
10:53 a.m. EDT on July 29 |
|
London |
3:35 p.m. BST on July 29 |
|
Beijing |
10:35 p.m. CST on July 29 |
|
Tokyo |
11:35 p.m. JST on July 29 |
|
Sydney |
00:35 a.m. AEDT on July 30 |
Why it’s called the Buck Moon
July’s full moon is also called the Buck Moon by some Native American tribes in reference to the furry antlers that grow from the heads of young deer around the time it rises. The Algonquin people also called it the Raspberry moon, evoking the fruit that ripens around that time in North America, while the Cree knew it as the Feather Moulting Moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
It is also known as the Thunder Moon, to reflect the intense storms that can arise in the hot summer months. European peoples, like the Anglo-Saxons, had their own traditional names for the occasion, linking it to the harvest time by referring to it as the Hay Moon, or Corn Moon, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Cultural traditions and festivals
The July full moon marks the celebration of Guru Purnima for followers of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths, when worshippers take time to honor their teachers and spiritual guides — known as Gurus — by fasting, attending a temple and via acts of gratitude and service, per Time and Date.
July 29 also coincides with the holy day of Asalha Puja for the Theravada Buddhist community, which commemorates Buddha’s first sermon, which occurred in Sarnath, India, where the spiritual leader imparted the “Four Noble Truths”, according to the University of Birmingham.
What else to see in the sky around the full moon
The glare of the Buck Moon will hide many of the fainter wonders of the night sky when it rises above the southeastern horizon at sunset on July 29, making it an ideal time to spot some of the brighter asterisms and solar system planets that glisten in the summer sky.
First, look out for the dazzling trio of stars that form the famous Summer Triangle asterism. Altair can be found shining a little over 30 degrees above the silver glow of the lunar disk, with Vega and Deneb to its upper left, marking the brightest points in the constellations of Lyra and Cygnus, respectively.
The glowing ribbon of the Milky Way tumbles directly through this cosmic triangle before arcing towards the southern horizon, though its diffuse light will be hidden behind a veil of moonlight on the night of the full moon.
Next, look to the right of the Buck Moon to spot the red light of the supergiant star Antares glowing at the heart of the constellation Scorpius, with the stars Acrab, Dschubba and Pi Scorpii glowing above, representing the claws of the celestial beast.
Be on the lookout for bright shooting stars belonging to the southern delta aquarid meteor shower, which comes to a peak overnight on Jul. 30-31. Sadly, the light of the full moon will hide all but the brightest shooting stars around the peak, but there’s always a chance that a dramatic fireball could appear to outshine even Venus in the night sky.
Venus will also be visible shining as a bright evening star shining low on the western horizon on the evening of July 29, but will set less than two hours after the sun, along with the stars of the nearby Leo, the lion.
The predawn sky will more than make up for the evening’s scant planetary offering, as Saturn, Mercury and Mars form a majestic arc to the left of the full moon, just before it sets below the western horizon. Together, the planets sketch out the path of the ecliptic — the imaginary line that the worlds of our solar system traverse as they glide silently through the night sky.
Observing tips
July 2026 will see the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Why not celebrate by finding each of the Apollo-era landing sites using our handy observer’s guide?
While you’re at it, read our expert’s guide to photographing the moon, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, and track Earth’s natural satellite as the shadows change its aspect over the course of the month.
Top tips to photograph the moon
- Use a tripod to keep your camera as steady as possible.
- Use a remote shutter/timer to prevent camera wobble.
- A smartphone stargazing app can help you find the exact point of moonrise on your local horizon.
- A lens with a focal length of 12-50 mm is useful for landscape photography, while a focal length of at least 400 mm is advised for capturing more detailed views of the lunar surface.
- The moon can be made to appear particularly large while close to the horizon next to foreground objects, where it may take on an orange-yellow appearance thanks to Rayleigh scattering. A cleaner, more “classic” view can be captured as it soars high overhead.
These times mark the exact instant of full illumination. Your specific moonrise or moonset may be hours earlier or later, depending on your location. For the best viewing plan, use an app such as Stellarium or Sky Safari 7 Pro to find your local moonrise time.
Editor’s Note: Did you capture a beautiful picture of the moon and want to share it with Space.com’s readers? Then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.