A Celestial Treat: The Buck Moon and the Moon Illusion
Skywatchers are in for a unique experience as the summer’s first full moon, known as the Buck Moon, creates an intriguing visual phenomenon in the night sky. This celestial event offers a rare opportunity to witness the moon’s optical tricks and its striking appearance.
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The full moon reaches its peak phase on Thursday at 4:36 pm ET. However, it will appear most dramatic when it rises above the horizon after sunset. At this time, the moon glows with a striking orange hue and seems larger than usual. This effect is known as the “Moon Illusion,” a fascinating visual phenomenon that plays tricks on the human mind.
When the moon hovers near the horizon, the brain compares it to nearby objects such as trees, buildings, or mountains. This comparison makes the moon appear significantly larger than when it is high overhead in the empty sky. To experience this illusion, you can start by looking at the full moon when it is near the horizon. Then, try viewing it through a cardboard tube to block out surrounding objects, which helps isolate the moon and reduce the illusion. Alternatively, you can look at the moon upside down by bending over and peering through your legs or leaning backward while seated on a swing.
NASA explains that the moon typically appears orange or red near the horizon due to Earth’s thick atmosphere scattering blue light, allowing warmer colors to pass through. This same phenomenon causes sunsets to appear red. On Thursday, the moon will also be at its farthest distance from the sun in 2025, just days after Earth reached aphelion, the point in its orbit farthest from the sun.
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On average, the moon is about 92.9 million miles from the sun. During the Buck Moon, it will be roughly 94.5 million miles away. In summer, the sun takes a high path across the sky during the day, while the moon follows a different path at night. As a result, the moon moves in a lower arc closer to the horizon instead of being high overhead.
Because the moon stays low in the sky all night, it can be seen for longer periods and from more locations, even in cities surrounded by buildings or trees. This makes the Buck Moon one of the best views of the year, not only because of its visibility but also due to its striking appearance.
The position of the moon makes it particularly special, as it will be unusually low in the sky at night. This occurs because a full moon always appears directly opposite the sun. Since the sun is still riding high after the June summer solstice, the moon will be close to the horizon.
This unusual low path of the moon is a direct result of its 18.6-year lunar cycle, known as a lunistice. During this period, the moon’s orbit tilts to its greatest angle relative to Earth’s equator. This tilt means the moon rises and sets farther north or south on the horizon than usual, following a shallower or higher arc depending on the season.
NASA explains that this phenomenon occurs due to the interaction between the moon’s tilted orbit and Earth’s own tilted axis and orbit around the sun. These interactions cause long-term shifts in the moon’s apparent trajectory.
The name “Buck Moon” comes from a seasonal behavior in North America. July is when male deer, known as bucks, fully grow their new antlers. Other Indigenous groups refer to it as the Thunder Moon, associated with seasonal summer storms, or Salmon Moon and Raspberry Moon, linked to harvesting activities.
European names include the Hay Moon, Mead Moon, and Herb Moon, which are connected to midsummer farming and festivals. While the name does not describe the moon’s color, like the previous month’s Strawberry Moon, the Buck Moon is known for its visual impact, especially when viewed from open fields, hilltops, or coastal areas with a clear southeast horizon.
No telescope or binoculars are necessary to appreciate the size and color difference compared to a typical high-riding moon. This moon’s low track and striking appearance are part of a long-term lunar rhythm, making it a memorable celestial event for skywatchers.
