Buck Moon 2026: July's full moon rises around the world
July's full moon reaches peak illumination Wednesday morning as skywatchers enjoy spectacular views.
The Buck Moon is the nickname of the full moon in the month of July. In addition to its rise over the San Francisco skyline on July 28, the moon was also visible over England, Greece and Scotland.
The full Buck Moon has officially risen, offering stunning views for skywatchers around the world.
Breathtaking views have been captured in Türkiye, the United Kingdom and Greece, as the moon rose above various well-known monuments. In the United States, the moon rose above the San Francisco skyline on Tuesday evening, creating a picturesque scene.
The moon rises behind the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of Athens, Greece, on July 28, 2026, ahead of the July full Moon, commonly known as the Buck Moon. (Photo by Giorgos Arapekos/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Buck Moon reached peak illumination on Wednesday at 10:36 a.m. ET, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Spectators should plan to look toward the southeast on Wednesday after sunset to watch it rise. The moon will also appear full in the days around peak illumination.
The meaning behind the Buck Moon
The Waxing Gibbous Moon rises above Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of the Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 29, 2026. (Photo by Osmancan Gurdogan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Buck Moon, July’s full moon, received its name from the time of year when deer are growing their antlers before the fall rut. It is also referred to as the Thunder Moon, since thunderstorms are common during the summer.
Additional names for this moon are the Feather Moulting Moon and Salmon Moon, a Tlingit term referring to the time when fish returned to the area to be harvested, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It can also be called the Halfway Summer Moon, referring to the time of year it rises.
The almost full moon rises behind St Michael's Mount in Marazion near Penzance on July 28, 2026, in Cornwall, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Full moons, which are always opposite the sun, rise in the east and will appear highest in the sky at midnight, EarthSky explained. This full moon also mimics the path the sun took in January.
“For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the January sun arched low, so we see the July full moon riding low in the sky,” EarthSky added.
A view of the full moon is seen over the Van Castle in Van, Turkiye on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Upcoming astronomy events
Another astronomical event will take place just one day after the rise of the Buck Moon. Two meteor showers, the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids, will peak together on the night of July 30 into the early hours of July 31.
The next full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, will take place on Aug. 28 at 12:18 a.m. ET, the Old Farmer’s Almanac noted. Also called the Flying Up Moon, Corn Moon, Ricing Moon and Harvest Moon, its peak marks the full moon of late summer.
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