Latest news with #moonillusion
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
The July full moon will create an optical illusion. Peak time to see the 'Buck moon' in RI
July's full moon, known as the Buck Moon, is rising this week – with a trick. On July 10, July's full moon will be at its peak at 4:37 p.m. ET, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It will be below the horizon when it reaches its peak, but you can face southeast to watch the moon rise following sunset. The full moon will be visible from July 9 to July 10, according to NASA. The trick will be when it rises. The Earth is currently just about at its farthest point from the sun in its orbit, according to Live Science, which means the moon is also at its farthest point. This creates an interesting moon rise, where is will appear low in the sky, 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 weather is looking less than ideal for watching a moonrise. AccuWeather is forecasting clouds and rain on July 9 and clouds and thunderstorms on July 10 in Providence. The Buck Moon, a Native American term, is called as such because "the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time," according to the Farmer's Almanac. "Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by." According to the Farmer's Almanac, they include: Feather Moulting Moon (Cree) Salmon Moon, (Tlingit) Berry Moon (Anishinaabe) When the Chokecherries are Ripe (Dakota) Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee) Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe) Thunder Moon (Western Abenaki) Halfway Summer Moon (Anishinaabe) A full moon can be seen clearly with the naked eye. But in a past interview with USA Today Network, Tim Brothers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology technical Instructor and observatory manager, said with any case of stargazing, it's much better if you're using a good telescope or a pair of binoculars. According to Time and Date, they include: Sturgeon Moon: Aug. 9, 2025 Corn Moon: Sept. 7, 2025 Harvest Moon: Oct. 6, 2025 Beaver Moon: Nov. 5, 2025 Cold Moon: Dec. 4, 2025 The USA Today Network contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: July full moon will create 'moon illusion.' When to see it in RI
Yahoo
5 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
When is the next full moon? Best time to view the buck moon from Texas in July 2025
One of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year will rise this week in the sign of Capricorn. This creates an interesting moon rise, where it will appear low in the sky, 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." Here's everything to know about July's buck moon and what it means. Date: Thursday, July 10 Peak Illumination: 3:37 p.m. CT Peak illumination does not always coincide with the best viewing time, which occurs after the sun has fully set. Peak illumination marks the moment when the full moon is perfectly opposite the sun in the sky, reaching its maximum brightness. However, since the moon rises in the east as the sun sets in the west, it won't be fully visible until after sunset. In some cases, peak illumination can even occur in the morning or midday, making those times less ideal for viewing. Find specific times of moonrises and moonsets in your zip code on the Old Farmers' Almanac website. The buck moon is named for the full-grown antlers of male deer, or bucks, during this time of year. Other names are thunder moon and hay moon. When a full moon coincides with a significant event, it is often regarded as a powerful symbol. For a birthday, it can signify emotional growth and new beginnings. A wedding under a full moon is thought to bring harmony, love and good luck. A birth on a full moon may suggest that the child has strong emotional depth and intuition. In all cases, the full moon adds an element of illumination, transformation and positive energy to the event. When a full moon coincides with the death of a loved one, it can represent closure and transition. The full moon is often associated with endings and completions, making it a poignant time for letting go. Some believe it offers a sense of emotional clarity, helping loved ones find peace and healing. First quarter: July 2 Full moon: July 10 Last quarter: July 18 New moon: July 24 Here are the remaining full moons in 2025. July 10 Aug. 9 Sept. 7 Oct. 7 Nov. 5 Dec. 4 This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When is the full moon in July 2025? See peak viewing time in Texas
