**Stargazers Set to Enjoy July’s Dramatic ‘Buck Moon’ Tonight**
This evening, avid skygazers across the United Kingdom will be treated to the celestial spectacle of July’s full ‘Buck Moon’, the seventh in this year’s lunar calendar. The annual event, anticipated by astronomers and star enthusiasts alike, traditionally marks a highlight in the mid-summer skyscape.
Each full moon throughout the year acquires a special nickname, with many such names rooted in indigenous North American traditions. July’s lunar display, commonly referred to as the ‘Buck Moon’, owes its title to the behavioural patterns of male deer. According to the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG), it is around this time that stags begin to grow new antlers, resulting in the moon’s distinctive moniker.
In addition to ‘Buck Moon’, July’s lunar phase also goes by alternative names in various cultures. It is sometimes known as the ‘Thunder Moon’, on account of the frequent summer storms typical of the month, or the ‘Hay Moon’, reflecting the time of the year when farmers gather their summer hay harvests. These alternative labels reflect the way communities historically linked natural phenomena with seasonal cycles.
Observers in the UK will see the Buck Moon reach its peak fullness at precisely 9:37pm on 10 July this year. This full moon, following last month’s striking ‘Strawberry Moon’, is set to take a particularly low position in the night sky, replicating a rare phenomenon seen in June when the full moon was the lowest for more than 18 years.
Astronomers explain that tonight’s Buck Moon will appear especially close to the horizon. This is, in part, because the moon currently occupies its furthest annual point from the sun – a configuration that heightens its visual impact. It also means the moon’s trajectory will keep it low across the southern quarter of the sky as night progresses, finally fading in the southwest at dawn.
Scientific explanations highlight that a full moon occurs when our planet slots perfectly between the sun and the moon, allowing sunlight to fully illuminate the moon’s Earth-facing surface. For viewers, this results in the moon shining at its brightest from sunset until sunrise over several evenings, after which it transitions toward the waning gibbous phase.
The 2025 Buck Moon is set to pass into the constellation Sagittarius and briefly settle within the so-called ‘teapot’ asterism – a well-known group of stars in the summer night sky. This placement, alongside the moon’s low altitude, may give it a distinctive orange hue as seen from the ground, an effect caused by atmospheric filtering rather than any intrinsic change in the moon itself.
Commentators note that this striking positioning is connected to the solar calendar. Space experts have pointed out that the moon’s lower path is a direct consequence of its proximity to the recent summer solstice, when the sun climbs highest during daylight hours and the moon traces an opposite, lower path during the night.
For those hoping to catch a glimpse, experts recommend seeking a clear, unobstructed view of the southern and southwestern horizon, and to watch for the large, golden moon as it makes its way across the lower reaches of the night sky.
Tonight’s Buck Moon, with its unique astronomical characteristics and deep cultural significance, is certain to provide both an inspiring sight and a moment of shared wonder for night-time observers across the UK and beyond.