When is July’s full moon? Here’s when, why it’s the Buck Moon

It’s almost time to cast your eyes to the sky for July’s wild full moon: The Buck Moon.

When is the full moon in July 2024?

The Buck Moon will hit peak illumination at 3:17 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The moon will still appear full the night before and after its peak to the casual stargazer, according to space.com.

Why is July’s full moon called the Buck Moon?

Male deer antlers begin to grow in late spring, growing as fast as a quarter-inch per day, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The long days trigger the hormones that start the growth each spring. By July, the antlers are in full velvet for the male deer, hence the Buck Moon.

Best way to view the full moon: Joshua Tree National Park

Looking for a good place to view the full moon in Southern California? Consider Joshua Tree National Park, where the dark night skies make for excellent viewing. Incidentally, we are in “Milky Way” season for JTNP … meaning the Milky Way is most visible at that vantage point during this time of year.

There’s one catch though. You’ll need to choose between full moon viewing or Milky Way viewing, as a bright moon will obscure your view of the galaxy.

What is the August full moon?

The Sturgeon Moon will hit peak illumination at 11:26 a.m. Pacific on Monday, Aug. 19.  It’s a supermoon, and will appear bigger and brighter than the other full moons we’ve seen so far this year.

Full moon schedule 2024

Each full moon has its own name. Here in North America we take the names for the full moons from Native Americans from different areas of North America.

In the 1930s the Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing Native American names for full moons, according to NASA. Here’s a look at when other full moons are expected to happen in 2024, according to NASA:

• Aug. 19, Sturgeon Moon
• Sept. 17, Harvest Moon
• Oct. 17, Hunter’s Moon
• Nov. 15, Beaver Moon
• Dec. 15, Cold Moon