Take a look up to the heavens and you’ll see the third supermoon of the year in the sky over Beaufort this weekend. July’s full moon marks the third of four supermoons in 2022. The Super Buck Moon is set to light up the night sky starting on Wednesday, visible to skywatchers provided the weather remains clear.
“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,” as The Old Farmer’s Almanac says.
Like many other full moons, July’s Buck Moon derives from Native Americans who first published its name in the Maine Farmer’s Almanac in the 1930s.
“According to this almanac, as the full moon in July – the Algonquin tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called this full moon the Buck Moon,” per NASA. “Early summer is normally when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. They also called this the Thunder Moon because of early summer’s frequent thunderstorms.”
In addition to “Buck,” other titles for this moon include “Thunder Moon,” “Mead Moon,” and “Hay Moon.” Europeans recognize this month’s full moon as the latter because haymaking typically takes place in June and July, NASA noted.
July’s Buck Moon will reach its peak illumination at 5:00am ET on July 13th, but won’t turn full until nine hours and 37 minutes later. Although 2:37pm ET on Wednesday will be when the moon is at its fullest phase, it will not be visible at that time.
So be sure to check it our early on Wednesday morning, and later on Wednesday night. It will stay in the sky through Friday, July 15th.
What makes this particular buck moon a supermoon is something else. Supermoons by definition happen “when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee,” according to NASA.
“During every 27-day orbit around Earth, the Moon reaches both its perigee, about 226,000 miles (363,300 km) from Earth, and its farthest point, or apogee, about 251,000 miles (405,500 km) from Earth.”
Supermoons in general appear 17% bigger and 30% brighter than when the moon is at its farthest point away from Earth, according to NASA. Supermoons are slightly bigger and brighter than most full moons, too. Just because it’s bigger and brighter doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see it unaided, so binoculars may give you a better view.
Enjoy the Super Buck Moon view, Beaufort!
