Overview
- The Buck Moon reached its exact full phase on Wednesday, July 29 at about 10:36 a.m. ET, though most observers saw it at moonrise after sunset on July 28–30.
- Skywatchers were advised to view the moon at moonrise near the eastern or southeastern horizon because a full moon appears essentially full for a day before and after the precise peak.
- The name 'Buck Moon' comes from traditional Native American full‑moon names preserved by the Old Farmer’s Almanac and refers to the time when male deer grow their antlers.
- The moon’s orange or red tint near the horizon is explained by Rayleigh scattering and in some regions — notably parts of the U.S. Midwest and Northeast and portions of Europe — Canadian wildfire smoke deepened the color.
- Photographers worldwide published large numbers of moonrise images on July 29–30, and the event was widely framed as a prelude to a busy August sky with a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 and a deep partial lunar eclipse in late August.