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!
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.
A supermoon is when the moon appears a little bit bigger in our sky. As the moon goes around the Earth, it’s not a perfect circle so there are points in its orbit where it’s a little bit closer or a little bit farther from the Earth.
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.
Spiritual meanings of the Buck Moon
As this full moon is in Capricorn, it is time to complete tasks that you have been putting off or know that you must complete. It is a time of productivity, personal growth and aligning your spirit with purpose. Now is when you should to put yourself to work hard to achieve your goals and concentrate on following your dreams.
If there is something that you wish to manifest, this moon is great for planting those seeds of abundance.
-Helen Demetriou
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.
2023 Moon Calendar
Article by Catherine Boeckmann
Sancta Rosa 
Reblogged this on Hālau 'Aha Hui Lānākila.
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