How to see July’s full buck moon
The 'buck moon,' July's full moon, will reach peak illumination this Wednesday and is best viewed in areas with minimal light pollution. The moon's appearance may be affected by smoke from Canadian wildfires, which could cause it to take on a reddish or orange hue.
Why it matters
Public interest in astronomical events provides educational opportunities and highlights the environmental impact of wildfires on atmospheric conditions.
July’s full moon will grace the sky this week. Called the buck moon, it will rise in the east and reach peak illumination at 10:36 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, though the moon will still look full before and after its peak. Sky-gazers will have “flexibility as long as you’re in a place that’s free of bright lights and you have a fairly clear view of the sky,” said Noah Petro, chief of the Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The moon will appear low in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, while for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the satellite will be high, but not as high as the June full moon, according to EarthSky.
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