July full moon 2025 rises tonight: Everything you need to know about the low-riding 'Buck Moon'
Heads up skywatchers, the July full moon rises tonight! Here's everything you need to know about where and when to see the lunar spectacle, along with explanations of the rare cocktail of orbital characteristics that make the 2025 'Buck Moon' unmissable.
The full moon reaches peak illumination at 4:36 p.m. EDT (2036 GMT) on July 10 and will become visible when itrises over the southeastern horizon as the sun sets in the evening sky. The exact time that moonrise takes place — which is around 8:53 p.m. local time in New York — is determined by where you are on Earth, so be sure to check a trusted website like timeanddate.com or in-the-sky.org to get the right timings for your locale.
July's full moon is also called the Buck Moon, because it coincides with the time of year that male deer, known as bucks, begin growing out their antlers, but it goes by other names too. It's also called the full 'Thunder Moon', in reference to the early summer storms that occur around the time it rises, while some Europeans have dubbed it the 'Hay Moon' because it appears as farmers gather animal feed in the wake of their July harvest.