Is it a full moon tonight? When to watch next full moon July 2025, the buck moon

One of the lowest-hanging full moons of the year will rise this week in the sign of Capricorn. Here's everything to know about July's buck moon and what it means.

A full moon is one of the lunar phases where the entire visible side of the moon, facing Earth, is illuminated by the sun. It's all about the alignment; Earth's position is between the sun and the moon, causing the entire near side of the moon to reflect the sunlight.

Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a blue moon — hence, the saying “once in a blue moon.” The next one will occur on May 31, 2026.

Here's what to know about July's full buck moon, the moon phases and this year's winter solstice.

When is the next full moon in July 2025?

The buck moon will reach peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, according to the Almanac.

To catch a glimpse, find a location with unobstructed views of the horizon.

Click here to see moonrise and moonset times in your area.

What are the moon phases for July 2025?

🌓First Quarter: July 2.

🌕Full Moon: July 10.

🌗Last Quarter: July 18.

🌑New Moon: July 24.

Why is the July full moon called the buck moon?

July's full is known as as the buck moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time of year, according to the Almanac. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers every year, with a larger and more impressive rack as they get older.

The buck moon name is derived from Native American traditions, where the full moon names often track or reflect the changes in seasons, natural rhythms of the year or animal behaviors and names them accordingly.

What zodiac sign is the buck moon in July 2025?

The zodiac sign of July's buck moon falls in the earth sign of Capricorn, which sits opposite the water sign Cancer on the zodiac axis.

When is the full moon in August 2025?

The August full moon, known as the sturgeon moon, will be visible on Aug. 9, 2025.

When is winter solstice 2025?

Winter solstice 2025, which marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, will occur onSunday, Dec. 21, 2025, 10:03 a.m. Eastern.

When is the shortest day of the year? How long will it be?

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 will be the shortest day of this year, with approximately 9 hours 17 minutes of daylight.

To check how many hours of sunlight you'll get and the sunrise/sunset times in your area, click here.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Is there a full moon tonight? July's full moon 2025: What is buck moon