Topline
July’s full Buck Moon rises tonight, Wednesday, July 29, bringing skywatchers the second full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the eighth in total so far in 2026. One of the highlights of summer skywatching, it rises exactly two weeks before a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, one of the biggest sky events of the year. As with all full moons, it will be best seen at moonrise as it climbs above the eastern horizon during dusk. Here’s exactly when and where to see it from across North America.
Key Facts
July’s Buck Moon will turn full at 10:37 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 29, but at that global moment it will be below the horizon as seen from North America.
The best views will come at moonrise where you are shortly after sunset across North America and Europe. In New York City, moonrise is at 8:33 p.m. EDT, while in Los Angeles, it’s at 8:18 p.m. PDT.
Find a location with an unobstructed view to the southeast, where the full moon will appear on the horizon minutes after the time of moonrise where you are — though exactly when depends on local terrain and buildings.
Names For July’s Full Moon
The Buck Moon name is a reference to the antlers of male deer (bucks), which are in full growth in July in North America. It’s also known as the Salmon Moon, Raspberry Moon, Thunder Moon, Claiming Moon, Wyrt Moon, Herb Moon, Mead Moon and Hay Moon, according to TimeAndDate.com.
Why the full ‘Buck Moon’ will look orange
Rayleigh scattering explains why the moon (and sun) always looks orange when viewed close to the horizon. Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, which is made up of particles of light called photons that travel in different wavelengths. Short-wavelengths of light, such as blue, strike molecules of nitrogen and oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere and get scattered, while longer wavelengths of light, such as red and orange, more easily travel through Earth’s atmosphere to reach your eyes.
Aug. 12’s Total Solar Eclipse
Two weeks after July’s full buck moon, the moon will turn new and pass directly in front of the sun, creating a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. The path of totality crosses eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, where — if skies are clear — the sun’s corona will become visible for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds. Across Western Europe and North America, a partial eclipse will be visible. North America’s best views will be from eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. St. John’s will see 53% of the sun covered, Halifax 31%, Québec City 24%, Boston 16% and New York 10%. Solar eclipse glasses will be essential throughout the partial eclipse.
When is the next full moon?
The following full moon after the buck moon will be the sturgeon moon on Thursday, Aug. 27, which will drift into Earth’s shadow to cause a deep partial lunar eclipse.
