July's full Moon, known as the Buck Moon, will light up the night sky across the UK in the coming week, offering a reliable treat for skygazers at the height of summer.
"The July full Moon gets its name from the time of year when male deer, or bucks, rapidly grow a new set of antlers." — Royal Observatory, Greenwich
It is the second of three full Moons this summer and is set to peak at 15:36 BST on 29 July. The exact moment of maximum fullness will be missed across the UK because the Moon will sit just below the horizon, but it will still appear full to the naked eye overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are the best nights to watch.
As with other full Moons through the year, the Buck Moon takes its label from events in the natural world. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich also calls it the Thunder Moon, after the summer storms common in July, and the Hay Moon, for the hay harvest. The names were used across cultures to track time and the changing seasons.
Based on current models there is a good chance of clear skies across much of the UK on the night of 29 July, particularly in central, southern and eastern areas. Northern and western parts may see a little more cloud, but widespread cloud or prolonged rain is not expected. England should remain settled with light winds and only patchy cloud after dark, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland look a little more mixed.
The Buck Moon sits in a run of summer moons that give casual observers several chances to look up without planning. Unlike meteor showers, which demand dark skies and patience, a full Moon is visible from almost anywhere and needs nothing but a clear evening — a small, dependable pleasure in a busy season.
No equipment is needed: find a spot with a low, unobstructed horizon and let your eyes adjust for a few minutes. The Moon rises in the east after sunset and climbs through the night, and a clear sky away from city lights will make the most of it. For photographers, a steady tripod and a standard lens are enough to capture a bright, golden disc near the horizon.
The findings add a small but useful data point to a much larger debate, and researchers caution against over-reading a single result before it is reproduced independently.
