Rising tonight, the Buck Moon isn&rsquo;t just a beautiful celestial moment; it&rsquo;s steeped in seasonal significance and a lunar illusion.&nbsp;

Tonight, the sky&rsquo;s putting on a show&mdash;and it&rsquo;s not just for the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/the-ultimate-guide-to-all-the-retrogrades-in-2025-mercury-retrograde-dates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">astrology girls</a> or your friend who just bought a telescope. The Buck Moon, July&rsquo;s full <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/new-full-moon-phase-astrology-meaning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moon</a>, is rising, and it&rsquo;s got a lot more going on than just a good photo op. From its symbolic ties to growth and transformation to the quirky optical illusion that makes it look massive on the horizon, this lunar moment is worth staying up for.
While <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/strawberry-full-moon-june-2025-sagittarius-meaning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the moon</a> officially reaches its peak brightness at 4:36 p.m. ET, it won&rsquo;t be visible until after sunset, when it emerges low in the sky and seemingly larger than life. Whether you're watching from your fire escape, your backyard, or just peeking out a window, tonight&rsquo;s Buck Moon brings a rare kind of beauty to the sky.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s everything you need to know about July&rsquo;s full <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/what-is-mercury-retrograde-how-to-understand-zodiac-astrology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moon</a>, including what time to catch it, why it&rsquo;s called the Buck Moon, and the little mind tricks it&rsquo;ll play on you.

This isn&rsquo;t just any <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/strawberry-full-moon-june-2025-sagittarius-meaning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full moon</a>&mdash;it&rsquo;s the Buck Moon, named for the time of year when male deer in North America begin to regrow their antlers. It&rsquo;s a natural signal that summer is fully underway and nature is doing its thing.
You might also hear it called the Thunder Moon, thanks to July&rsquo;s frequent storms, especially across parts of the U.S. That double name gives the moon a bit of mood: it&rsquo;s equal parts wild nature and moody summer skies.
This year&rsquo;s Buck Moon comes just days after Earth hit its aphelion, or the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun. That means the moon we see tonight is the farthest full moon from the Sun for all of 2025. Does that change how it looks? Not really. But it adds a cosmic twist to the story&mdash;and a fun fact to drop at dinner.

The July full moon, known as the Buck Moon, will officially peak on Thursday, July 10 at 4:36 p.m. ET, though you&rsquo;ll want to wait until after sunset to catch it in its full glowing glory. In New York City, moonrise begins around 8:53 p.m., when the moon climbs above the southern horizon and begins its dreamy display. Exact times vary by location, so if you're not in NYC, it's worth checking a site like <a data-start="747" data-end="793" class="" rel="noopener" target="_new" href="https://www.timeanddate.com">timeanddate.com</a> for your local moonrise.
The best time to view? The few hours right after it rises&mdash;when the &ldquo;Moon Illusion&rdquo; kicks in and makes the lunar disk look dramatically larger than it actually is. It&rsquo;s a mind trick your brain plays when the moon is close to the horizon, but honestly, it just makes for better Instagram content.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/celebrity-couple-astrology-compatibility-jlo-ben-affleck-zodiac-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spiritually</a> and symbolically, the Buck Moon represents growth, renewal, and resilience&mdash;much like the antlers it&rsquo;s named for. It&rsquo;s a reminder that even in the thick of summer, there&rsquo;s change happening all around us. And maybe even within us, too.
So whether you're a stargazer, a photo fiend, or just someone who needs a reason to pause tonight&mdash;this moon&rsquo;s for you.

What Is the Buck Moon? Everything to Know About July’s Full Moon

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