Latest news with #buckmoon
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Get ready for the 'moon illusion.' July's full moon to appear low in Michigan skies
July's full moon will be the farthest from the sun this year as both the Earth and moon make their orbits, but it also will provide a good opportunity to check out the "moon illusion." The buck moon, set to peak July 10, comes a week after Earth reached its farthest point from the sun in its orbit, according to Live Science. Thus, the July full moon will also be at its farthest point from the sun as well. The moon will appear low in the night sky this week, giving it an unnaturally large appearance known as the moon illusion. "Photographs prove that the moon is the same width near the horizon as when it's high in the sky, but that's not what we perceive with our eyes," NASA says. "Thus, it's an illusion rooted in the way our brains process visual information. Even though we've been observing it for thousands of years, there's still not a satisfying scientific explanation for exactly why we see it." The National Weather Service predicts chances of partly cloudy skies throughout most of the state overnight July 10, with the full moon likely to be visible at moonrise. Look up in the evening sky to see the buck moon, set to appear full July 9 and 10, and visible as it rises above the horizon at night. Here's what to know: How low will the full moon appear? July's full moon will look quite low in the sky after sunset, says. This comes as the sun appears high in the sky during the day following the summer solstice. Also, the rare major lunar standstill sees the sun's gravity impact the moon's orbit in relation to Earth, making it appear especially low. Why does the moon look yellowish near the horizon? The moon tends to have a more yellow or orange hue near the horizon than when it's high overhead, NASA said. "This happens because the Moon's light travels a longer distance through the atmosphere. As it travels a longer path, more of the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light are scattered away, leaving more of the longer, redder wavelengths. (Dust or pollution can also deepen the reddish color)," NASA explained. How did the buck moon get its name? The name buck moon comes from bucks, or male deer, reaching their antlers' full-growth during this season, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. When does the full moon peak in July 2025? The full moon will peak at 4:37 p.m. on July 10, 2025. While high or low clouds are expected in various areas across Michigan overnight July 10, forecasters expect the buck moon to remain visible in most regions in the early part of the night, per the weather service. Is the buck moon a supermoon? No, the buck moon is not a supermoon. What phase of the lunar cycle is the moon in now? The moon is currently in its waxing gibbous phase, at 95% illumination, according to The moon's next phases in July 2025 are: Full Moon: July 10 Last Quarter: July 17 New Moon: July 24 Where can you watch the buck moon in Michigan? Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary. The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park. In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park. In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station and Tahquamenon Falls State Park. In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park. In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area. In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park. Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary. When is the next full moon after July? The sturgeon moon will peak Aug. 9, 2025. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Moon illusion will make buck moon appear larger as it illuminates Michigan skies Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Dazzling photos show the July full 'buck moon' reach peak illumination
July's full moon, known as the 'buck moon,' put on a show for viewers by sitting unusually low on the horizon on July 10. It was the farthest full moon from the sun in 2025. The name 'buck moon' is in reference to male deer, or bucks, which start to rapidly grow their antlers this time of year. This year's buck moon reached its peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday, which is when it was fully visible and low on the horizon for stargazers in North America. This full moon was so visibly low on the horizon because of the summer solstice, which kicks off the summer and marks when the sun starts traveling at its highest point in the day. When the sun is at its high peak, the moon travels along a lower path throughout the night, according to Due to its low position in the sky, buck moons tend to look a little orange because of Rayleigh scattering, which is the same thick atmosphere that makes us see sunsets as very orange. A full moon happens when the sun, Earth and moon are in alignment and form a straight line. Since the moon and the sun are on either side of Earth, the sun's light shines on the moon entirely, making it look fully illuminated from the Earth's perspective, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Even if you missed the buck moon on July 10, the full moon will still be clearly visible over the next few nights, according to There are only five full moons left in 2025, the next one being the 'sturgeon moon' on Aug. 9, and three supermoons in October, November and December, according to a schedule by the Farmers' Almanac.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When to watch tonight's full moon: What is July 2025 buck moon in Capricorn sign meaning?
One of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year rises this week in the sign of Capricorn as the Mercury Retrograde nears. Here's everything to know about July's buck moon and what it means. A full moon is one of the lunar phases where the entire visible side of the moon, facing Earth, is illuminated by the sun. It's all about the alignment; Earth's position is between the sun and the moon, causing the entire near side of the moon to reflect the sunlight. Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a blue moon — hence, the saying 'once in a blue moon.' The next one will occur on May 31, 2026. Here's what to know about July's full buck moon, the moon phases and when is the Mercury Retrograde. The buck moon reached peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, according to the Almanac. To catch a glimpse, find a location with unobstructed views of the horizon. Click here to see moonrise and moonset times in your area. Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during July 17 through August 10. This is a period when, from our perspective on Earth, the planet Mercury appears to move backward in the sky - an optical illusion, as it doesn't actually change direction in its orbit. The planet closest to the sun orbits much faster than Earth ... so when Earth passes Mercury in their respective orbits, it creates the illusion that Mercury is moving backwards. This Retrograde phenomena typically happens three to four times a year. Mercury is associated with communication, travel and technology and astrologers have long associated these Retrograde periods with increased miscommunications, delays and technological difficulties, according the Almanac. 🌓 First Quarter: July 2. 🌕 Full Moon: July 10. 🌗 Last Quarter: July 18. 🌑 New Moon: July 24. July's full is known as as the buck moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time of year, according to the Almanac. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers every year, with a larger and more impressive rack as they get older. The buck moon name is derived from Native American traditions, where the full moon names often track or reflect the changes in seasons, natural rhythms of the year or animal behaviors and names them accordingly. The zodiac sign of July's buck moon falls in the earth sign of Capricorn, which sits opposite the water sign Cancer on the zodiac axis. The August full moon, known as the sturgeon moon, will be visible on Aug. 9, 2025. Winter solstice 2025, which marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, will occur on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, 10:03 a.m. Eastern. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 will be the shortest day of this year, with approximately 9 hours 17 minutes of daylight. To check how many hours of sunlight you'll get and the sunrise/sunset times in your area, click here. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: What is tonight's full buck moon sign meaning? July 2025 moon phases
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why does the moon look so big tonight? What the moon illusion means for July's buck moon
One of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year will be visible tonight in the sign of Capricorn as the Mercury Retrograde nears. Here's everything to know about July's buck moon and what it means. A full moon is one of the lunar phases where the entire visible side of the moon, facing Earth, is illuminated by the sun. It's all about the alignment; Earth's position is between the sun and the moon, causing the entire near side of the moon to reflect the sunlight. The so-called moon illusion is a visual trick that makes the moon appear larger near the horizon than when it's in the sky. This perception is influenced by surrounding objects such as trees, buildings and mountains, NASA explains. Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a blue moon — hence, the saying 'once in a blue moon.' The next one will occur on May 31, 2026. Here's what to know about July's full buck moon, the moon phases and when is the Mercury Retrograde. The buck moon reached peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, according to the Almanac. The moon will still appear full on Friday, July 11. Click here to see moonrise and moonset times in your area. What is moon illusion? Why does the moon look so big tonight? The July full moon will also a perception phenomenon known as the moon illusion. That's when the moon appears much larger than usual, particularly when it's close to the horizon. NASA offers a few explanations, such as atmospheric conditions, lighting and foreground objects distorting scale. Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during July 17 through August 10. This is a period when, from our perspective on Earth, the planet Mercury appears to move backward in the sky - an optical illusion, as it doesn't actually change direction in its orbit. The planet closest to the sun orbits much faster than Earth ... so when Earth passes Mercury in their respective orbits, it creates the illusion that Mercury is moving backwards. This Retrograde phenomena typically happens three to four times a year. Mercury is associated with communication, travel and technology and astrologers have long associated these Retrograde periods with increased miscommunications, delays and technological difficulties, according the Almanac. 🌓 First Quarter: July 2. 🌕 Full Moon: July 10. 🌗 Last Quarter: July 18. 🌑 New Moon: July 24. July's full is known as as the buck moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time of year, according to the Almanac. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers every year, with a larger and more impressive rack as they get older. The buck moon name is derived from Native American traditions, where the full moon names often track or reflect the changes in seasons, natural rhythms of the year or animal behaviors and names them accordingly. The zodiac sign of July's buck moon falls in the earth sign of Capricorn, which sits opposite the water sign Cancer on the zodiac axis. The August full moon, known as the sturgeon moon, will be visible on Aug. 9, 2025. Winter solstice 2025, which marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, will occur on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, 10:03 a.m. Eastern. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 will be the shortest day of this year, with approximately 9 hours 17 minutes of daylight. To check how many hours of sunlight you'll get and the sunrise/sunset times in your area, click here. This article originally appeared on What moon illusion means for tonight's July buck moon
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
July's Full Moon: When to See the ‘Buck Moon' Rise Where You Are
Rejoice! Hot on the heels of June's full strawberry moon, July's full moon, which is also the first official full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, is coming soon on Thursday, July 10. Called the 'buck moon,' this full moon in particular gets its name from the time of year when male deer, or bucks, begin to grow their new antlers, a symbol of summer's peak and nature's renewal, per BBC's Sky at Night magazine. July's buck moon is also notable as it's one of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year. That's because a full moon is directly opposite the sun, mirroring its position; the full moon is at its lowest when the sun is at its highest, as it is in the summer months. That's not all: This year's buck moon is also a catalyst for realignment, due to the tension between the current Cancer sun, which dictates our personal lives, and the Capricorn moon, which dictates public ambition. What does that mean exactly? Well, in short, it means that this full moon will bring a powerful wave of growth and renewal for all 12 zodiac signs. The buck moon is a time to reinforce boundaries and unapologetically pursue goals. To find the best time to see the buck moon appear, consult a moonrise calculator. Here are some sample times: New York: sunset at 8:28 P.M. EST, moonrise at 8:53 P.M. EST on Thursday, July 10 Los Angeles: sunset at 8:06 P.M. PST, moonrise at 8:33 P.M. PST on Thursday, July 10 London: sunset at 9:15 P.M. BST, moonrise at 9:45 P.M. BST on Thursday, July 10 The next full moon is the 'sturgeon moon,' which will occur on Saturday, August 9. It will be the second full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)
