Catch July’s Stunning Low-Rise ‘Buck Moon’: Your Ultimate Guide to 2025’s Farthest Full Moon from the Sun!

The first full moon of summer is here! This spectacular event, called the Buck Moon, will shine brightly on Thursday, July 10. It will be one of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year.

Although the moon officially reaches full status at 4:38 p.m. EDT, it will be below the horizon in North America at that time. Your best chance to see it is during moonrise at dusk when it appears as a glowing orange orb on the eastern horizon. You can check your local moonrise time using a moon calculator.

This Buck Moon will be visible in Sagittarius, a well-known constellation. However, don’t expect to see many bright stars nearby, as this constellation isn’t known for them.

July’s full moon is significant because it behaves differently than other moons throughout the year. Since it falls relatively early in the month, the Buck Moon will be low in the sky. Full moons are directly opposite the sun, so when the sun is at its highest during the summer solstice, the moon is at its lowest. As it rises in the southeast at dusk, it will drift slowly across the southern sky and set in the southwest at dawn.

This low position will create a “moon illusion,” where the moon looks larger than it actually is. According to NASA, this optical illusion occurs because of the way our brains perceive objects on the horizon compared to those up high.

Interestingly, this Buck Moon is also the farthest full moon from the sun. On July 3, Earth reached aphelion, which is its farthest point from the sun during its yearly orbit. Since the moon will be on the side of Earth that faces away from the sun, it’s indeed the most distant full moon of the year.

The term “Buck Moon” comes from the new antlers that male deer sprout in July, but it’s also known by various names. Native American tribes referred to it as the Salmon Moon, Raspberry Moon, and Thunder Moon, among others. The English name, Hay Moon, reflects its connection to midsummer harvesting.

For something extra, a recent survey found that over 70% of people enjoy stargazing at full moons, highlighting how these celestial events bring communities together. Next up, mark your calendars for the Sturgeon Moon, which will rise on Saturday, August 9.

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