Topline
The full Buck Moon — the eighth full moon of 2026 — rose into evening skies around the world on Wednesday, July 29, illuminating midsummer landscapes and offering photographers a classic warm-weather full moon as twilight faded. Half an orbit later, on Aug. 12, the next new moon will be positioned precisely between the Earth and the sun as seen from parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, causing a dramatic total solar eclipse.
Key Facts
The buck moon reached its exact full phase at 10:37 a.m. EDT on July 29, but — as always — was best seen at moonrise during dusk, just after sunset that night. It appeared on the eastern horizon across North America around 8:30 p.m. local time, just after sunset.
It was the eighth full moon of 2026 and the second full moon of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
WHY IT’S CALLED THE BUCK MOON
July’s full moon is traditionally known as the buck moon because this is the time of year when male deer begin to regrow their antlers, or “bucks.” Other historical names include the thunder moon and hay moon.
A CLASSIC SUMMER FULL MOON
As a midsummer full moon, the buck moon followed a relatively low arc across the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. Full moons always appear opposite the sun, and with the sun still high in late July, the moon rose lower than winter full moons.
THE MOON ILLUSION IN ACTION
Many of the most striking images relied on the moon illusion, an optical effect that makes the moon appear larger when it is near the horizon. The illusion is strongest at moonrise, when foreground objects such as city skylines or natural landmarks provide a sense of scale that tricks the human brain into exaggerating the moon’s apparent size.
WHY THE EXACT FULL MOON TIME MATTERS LESS
Although the buck moon officially turned full during daylight hours in North America, it looked essentially full both the night before and the night after. That’s why skywatchers and photographers focus on the date when moonrise occurs just after sunset — during dusk — rather than the precise moment of full phase, which is largely irrelevant.
WHY THE ‘BUCK MOON’ LOOKED ORANGE
The moon always appears orange when it is near the horizon, at both moonrise and moonset. When you view the full moon, you’re looking at it through a lot of Earth’s atmosphere — a soup of nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Short-wavelength light, such as blue, strikes those molecules. Longer wavelengths of light, such as red and orange, more easily travel through — and that’s what your eyes primarily see.
WHAT COMES NEXT IN THE NIGHT SKY
July’s buck moon acted as a calm prelude to one of the most dramatic months of 2026. August will bring a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, visible from parts of Europe, followed just a few hours later by the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. That could see about 50 “shooting stars” per hour in dark skies.
COUNTDOWN TO THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Two weeks after July’s full buck moon, the moon will turn new and pass directly in front of the sun, creating a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. The path of totality crosses eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, where — if skies are clear — the sun’s corona will become visible for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.
COUNTDOWN TO THE PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Across Western Europe and North America, a partial eclipse will be visible. From the U.K. and Western Europe, a deep partial solar eclipse will be seen, with some seeing the odd sight of a 95%-eclipsed sunset. North America’s best views will be in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. Newfoundland will be closest to the path of totality, so see the biggest partial eclipse at about 50%, with Halifax at 31%, Québec City at 24%, Boston at 16%, and New York at 10%. Solar eclipse glasses will be essential throughout all phases of the partial eclipse.
WHEN IS THE NEXT FULL MOON?
Two weeks after the total solar eclipse, there will be a very deep partial lunar eclipse. On Aug. 27, 96% of the full sturgeon moon will enter Earth’s shadow, causing much of the lunar surface to turn a reddish color — not quite a “blood moon” total lunar eclipse, but about as close as it’s possible to get. It will be seen across North America.