Overview
- The Buck Moon reached peak illumination at about 10:36–10:37 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 29, and will appear full again tonight at local moonrise.
- The best public views come at moonrise shortly after local sunset, with New York City around 8:33 p.m. EDT and Los Angeles about 8:18 p.m. PDT, so check local moonrise times before heading out.
- The rising moon can look orange because Rayleigh scattering removes shorter blue wavelengths as light passes through the low horizon, and smoke from Canadian wildfires may further redden or dim the view in some regions.
- Skywatchers can also spot a mini planetary parade—Saturn, Mars and Mercury trailing the moon—and expect activity from late‑July meteor showers, though the full moon’s brightness will drown many faint meteors.
- This full moon occurs near lunar apogee, making it a slight 'micro moon', it coincides with cultural names and observances including Guru Purnima, and it directly precedes a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 and a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27–28.