A full moon is expected to appear around its peak illumination on Thursday at 4:37 p.m. ET, marking this month’s buck moon. The best viewing times will be just after sunset, when the moon will be above the horizon for observers in North America. According to NASA, the full moon will look full for a day or so either side of its peak, making it visible on the nights of July 9-11.
Historically, July’s full moon is known as the buck moon due to its alignment with the growing antlers of male deer. Other Indigenous tribes refer to it by different names, such as the molting moon (Cree) or salmon moon (Tlingit), signifying the summer season and bird migration patterns.
For optimal viewing, head to an area with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, avoiding bright lights. Weather permitting, stargazers can also catch a glimpse of Venus, Jupiter, and Mars in the night sky towards the end of the month.
The next few weeks will feature several full moons, including supermoons in October, November, and December. Marking another notable event is July’s 60th anniversary of NASA’s first successful flyby of Mars in 1965.
Two celestial events are expected to occur this summer: a total lunar eclipse on September 7-8 and a partial solar eclipse on September 21.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/09/science/full-buck-moon-july