This month’s full moon will be a doozy. It is set to arise on July 10 and will be the most distant full moon from the sun in 2025, based on information provided by Space.com. That’s because it comes just days after Earth has passed its aphelion, the point in its orbit farthest from the sun.
The full moon will be rising at 3:37 p.m. CT, but for most observers, the ideal viewing time will be after dark as it rises above the southeastern horizon. That’s when it will appear largest, courtesy of a phenomenon known as the ‘Moon Illusion’, a visual illusion that causes the moon to appear larger when it’s low in the sky.
Why it Appears Lower This Year
This year’s Buck Moon will also look much lower than normal. That’s due to a rare phenomenon called a ‘Major Lunar Standstill’, which occurs just once every 18.6 years. According to Space.com, it happens when the sun’s gravity pulls the moon’s path into its steepest inclination relative to Earth’s equator, causing the moon to appear unusually low in the summer sky.
Other Names of Buck Moon
July’s full moon is commonly referred to as the ‘Buck Moon’, when in North America, male deer begin to grow their antlers. It’s also referred to as the ‘Thunder Moon’ because of the regular summer thunderstorms throughout the US. Other names the Old Farmer’s Almanac refers to are the ‘Salmon Moon’, ‘Berry Moon’, ‘Feather Moulting Moon’, and ‘Raspberry Moon’.
With clear skies, folks all across the US should enjoy a great view of this unique full moon rising shortly after sunset on July 10.
