July’s full Buck Moon rises after sunset on Monday, July 3—the eve of Independence Day! This is also a supermoon that will appear bigger and brighter than average. See more information about July’s Full Moon from why we call it the “Buck” Moon to best days by the Moon.
When to See the Full Moon in July 2023
July’s full Buck Moon will rise on Monday, July 3, reaching peak illumination at 7:39 A.M. Eastern Time. It will be below the horizon at that time, so plan to look towards the southeast after sunset to watch it rise into the sky. Being the day before the Fourth of July, it should make for dazzling fireworks displays!
→ Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see precisely when the Buck Moon will be visible in your area!
Behold the Full Buck Supermoon!
July’s full Buck Moon orbits closer to Earth than many of the other full Moons this year, making one of the four supermoons of 2023! At its nearest point, the Buck Moon will be 224,895.4 miles (361,934 km) from Earth, which means that August’s Blue Moon will be the only supermoon that is closer to our planet this year.
While a supermoon is technically bigger and brighter than a regular full Moon, it only appears about 7% larger—which can be an imperceptible difference to the human eye, depending on other conditions.
→ Want to really see a huge full Moon? Read about the “Moon illusion” to discover how and when to look for one!
Why Is It Called the Buck Moon?
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.
The Buck Moon
The full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by.
Alternative July Moon Names
Several other names for this month’s Moon also reference animals, including Feather Moulting Moon (Cree) and Salmon Moon, a Tlingit term indicating when fish returned to the area and were ready to be harvested.
Plants are also featured prominently in July’s Moon names. Some of our favorites are Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe (Dakota), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe).
Thunder Moon (Western Abenaki) and Halfway Summer Moon (Anishinaabe) are alternative variants that refer to the stormy weather and summer season.
Best Days in July 2023
Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in July.
| Activity | Best Days |
| Cutting Hay | 9, 10 |
| Pick Fruit | 20-22 |
| Fishing | July 17- August 1 |
Witches Of The Craft® 
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