Overview

• The Buck Moon rose on July 10 as the first full moon of summer, earning its name from the period when male deer begin to grow antlers.
• Earth’s aphelion on July 3 and the Moon’s opposition to a high summer Sun produced an unusually low, horizon-grazing appearance during peak illumination.
• Atmospheric scattering at low elevation gave the full moon a vibrant orange hue, and the Moon illusion made it appear oversized.
• Viewers also spotted Mars, Saturn and Venus near the Buck Moon, creating a rare planetary conjunction in the night sky.
• Amateur photographers from the Echo’s Camera Club in Dorset and the Watford Observer Camera Club shared striking images of the spectacle worldwide.