Look to the Sky This Weekend to See The Full Buck Moon – Here’s Why it’s Called That
The full Buck Moon will take place this weekend, but why is July's moon known as the Buck Moon?
Full Moons
I always have found the lunar phases fascinating. I think it's because the sun is always the sun. It looks the same every day (not that you should look directly at the sun, but you get what I'm saying). The moon, however, looks different every day. If you don't look often you may notice it's a crescent one day, but the next time you look it's a full moon. I even have a crescent moon tattooed on my arm because my son and I love to go out at night and see what the moon looks like, and it's one of my favorite little traditions we share. But if you're a fan of full moons, good news you'll get to experience July's full moon soon!
The Full Buck Moon
Every month's full moon has a different nickname and July's moon is called the Buck Moon. While I wish it were called the Buck Moon because it meant we were all going to stumble into some bucks (as in, money), it's called the Buck Moon because it typically coincides with bucks shedding their antlers.
The full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by.
When to See the Full Buck Moon
According to Almanac, the full Buck Moon will rise on Sunday, July 21st and reach peak illumination at 6:17 AM Eastern Time. They say the moon will be below the horizon at that time so the best time to view it will be just after sunset in the southeast direction.