July Full Moon 2026 (Buck Moon): Date, Time & Meaning
The Full Moon in July 2026 — traditionally called the Buck Moon — occurs on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 14:36 GMT/UTC (10:36 AM EDT). The Moon will be located in the constellation Capricornus. Around this Full Moon, the lunar disk will look bright and round for several nights, especially on July 28, 29, and 30.
Want to know exactly when the Buck Moon rises in your city and what stars are nearby? Use the free astronomy app Sky Tonight. Read on to learn when to see the July Full Moon, why it’s called the Buck Moon, what constellation it appears in, and whether it will be a Supermoon.
Contents
- July Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- July 2026 Moon dates & times
- Best time to see the July Full Moon 2026
- What constellation is the July Full Moon in?
- July Buck Moon meaning: why is it called the Buck Moon?
- July Full Moon alternative names
- July Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
July Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- Date: July 29, 2026
- Peak time: 14:36 GMT/UTC (10:36 AM EDT)
- Looks full: around July 28–30
- Name & meaning: Buck Moon — named after the new antlers growing on young male deer in midsummer
- Where in the sky: constellation Capricornus
- Special feature: the Moon will stay low in the sky for many Northern Hemisphere observers and high in the sky for many Southern Hemisphere observers
July 2026 Moon dates & times
July Moon phases 2026
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in July 2026:
- Last Quarter: July 7, 19:29 GMT/UTC (3:29 PM EDT)
- New Moon: July 14, 09:43 GMT/UTC (5:43 AM EDT)
- First Quarter: July 21, 11:06 GMT/UTC (7:06 AM EDT)
- Full Moon: July 29, 14:36 GMT/UTC (10:36 AM EDT)
Did you know? The Full Moon is beautiful to see with the naked eye, but the best Moon phases for telescope or binocular observations are often the quarter phases. Around the First Quarter and Last Quarter, the shadows along the terminator — the line between lunar day and night — make craters and mountains easier to see.
Want to know the dates of all the Moon phases in July 2026? Check our interactive Moon Calendar on our website.
When is the Full Moon in July 2026?
The July Full Moon occurs on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 14:36 GMT/UTC (10:36 AM EDT). At this moment, the Moon will reach its maximum illumination. In astronomy, the Full Moon is the exact moment in time when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of Earth. But to observers, the Moon looks full for about a day before and after that moment.
You can see how the Moon will look in the sky on any chosen date in the Sky Tonight app: tap the calendar icon, open the Moon tab, and select any date. You will see an accurate 3D image of the Moon, which reflects the angular size and orientation of the real Moon as seen from your location.
Full Moon in July 2026: Time in popular time zones
Here’s when the July Full Moon reaches peak illumination in a few popular time zones.
North & South America
- US ET: 10:36 AM on July 29
- US CT: 9:36 AM on July 29
- US MT: 8:36 AM on July 29
- US PT: 7:36 AM on July 29
- Brazil (BRT): 11:36 on July 29
Europe
- UK (BST): 15:36 on July 29
- Central Europe (CEST): 16:36 on July 29
Asia
- India (IST): 20:06 on July 29
- China (CST): 22:36 on July 29
- Japan (JST): 23:36 on July 29
Oceania
- Australia (AEST): 00:36 on July 30
- New Zealand (NZST): 02:36 on July 30
Best time to see the July Full Moon 2026
The best time to see the July Full Moon is around local moonrise on the evening closest to the exact Full Moon. In places where the Full Moon happens during the morning, such as North and South America, the best view may come on the evening before the peak — July 28. In Europe, Asia, and Australia, the evening of July 29 will usually be closer to the exact Full Moon.
Here are example moonrise times around the Full Moon in different cities:
- New York: 8:03 PM on July 28
- Los Angeles: 7:45 PM on July 28
- Chicago: 8:02 PM on July 28
- London: 21:07 on July 29
- Paris: 21:46 on July 29
- Beijing: 19:33 on July 29
- Tokyo: 18:46 on July 29
- Sydney: 16:46 on July 29
All times are local.
Want the exact moonrise time for your city? In Sky Tonight, search for the Moon and tap on it. Open Events to see moonrise and moonset times for your location, or check Figures for the current phase, illumination, and brightness.
July Full Moon illusion: why the Buck Moon may look huge
Around moonrise, the July Full Moon may look unusually large near the horizon. This effect is called the Moon illusion: the Moon itself doesn’t change size, but our brain compares it with trees, buildings, hills, or other objects near the horizon, making it seem bigger than when it’s high in the sky.
The best time to notice the July Full Moon illusion is shortly after moonrise, when the Buck Moon is still low above the horizon.
When is the New Moon in July 2026?
The New Moon will occur on July 14, 2026, at 09:43 GMT/UTC (5:43 AM EDT). Around the New Moon, the lunar disk is invisible to the naked eye because the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun.
This is the best time of the month for observing faint deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters, because bright moonlight won’t wash them out. Some July meteors are also easier to see under dark, moonless skies, although the late-July shower peaks will be affected by bright moonlight.
Not sure what you can observe in your sky now? The Visible Tonight feature in the Sky Tonight app will guide you to the best sights for your exact location.
What constellation is the July Full Moon in?
In the sky, the July Full Moon 2026 will be positioned in the constellation Capricornus. According to astrologers, it will be in the sign of Aquarius.
The difference comes from the way astrology and astronomy divide the sky — and from the slow shift caused by Earth’s axial precession. Learn more in our infographic: 12 Zodiac Signs vs. 13 Constellations of Ecliptic.
July Buck Moon meaning: why is it called the Buck Moon?
The July Full Moon is traditionally known as the Buck Moon. The name is connected with male deer, or bucks, whose new antlers grow rapidly during this time of year. In early summer, buck antlers are covered in a soft, blood-rich layer called velvet; by late July, the antlers are often nearly full-grown and begin to harden.
So no — the Buck Moon doesn’t mean the Moon will grow horns or change shape. Like many traditional Full Moon names, it reflects seasonal changes in nature, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
July Full Moon alternative names
The July Full Moon has many traditional names across cultures, reflecting local animals, plants, weather, and seasonal activities. The name Buck Moon is one of the best-known North American folk names, but it is not the only one.
Other July Full Moon names include:
- Thunder Moon — a Western Abenaki name, linked with the frequent thunderstorms of mid-summer
- Feather Moulting Moon — a Cree name referring to birds losing and replacing their feathers
- Hay Moon — a European name, marking the cutting and curing of hay in fields
- Salmon Moon — a name used in Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes traditions, when salmon begin their upstream runs
- Berry Moon — an Anishinaabe name for ripening wild berries
- Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe — a Dakota name referring to the ripening of chokecherries
- Ripe Corn Moon — a Cherokee name, used when corn reaches the milky-kernel stage
- Halfway Summer Moon — an Anishinaabe name marking the middle of the summer season
- Mead Moon — a European name connected with honey collection and mead-making
- Wort Moon — an Old English name; “wort” meant herbs gathered for medicinal use
- Raspberry Moon — an Algonquin and Ojibwe name connected with ripening raspberries
Seasonal names of Full Moons in the Southern Hemisphere are often shifted by 6 months compared to the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, the July Full Moon may be associated with names such as Wolf Moon and Ice Moon there.
Buck Moon spiritual meaning
In modern spiritual traditions, the Buck Moon is often associated with growth, strength, maturity, and renewal. Because deer antlers regrow every year, people sometimes connect the Buck Moon with personal development, rebuilding confidence, and moving into a stronger stage of life.
These meanings aren’t based in astronomy, but they can be a poetic way to reflect under the Full Moon. Scientifically, the Buck Moon is simply the Full Moon that occurs in July.
July Full Moon 2026: Frequently asked questions
When is the Buck Moon in 2026?
The Buck Moon reaches its exact Full Moon moment on July 29, 2026, at 14:36 GMT/UTC (10:36 AM EDT). Depending on your time zone, the peak may fall in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night. The Moon will still look full for about a day before and after this peak, so you can enjoy it on nearby nights even if you miss the exact time.
Why is the July Full Moon called the Buck Moon?
The July Full Moon is called the Buck Moon because young male deer, or bucks, grow new antlers around this time of year. Many traditional Full Moon names reflect seasonal changes in nature, and the Buck Moon is one of the most vivid examples.
Where is the July Full Moon in the sky?
In 2026, the July Full Moon is located in the constellation Capricornus. In astrology, you may see it described as an Aquarius Full Moon because zodiac signs and astronomical constellations are different systems. We explain this in more detail in our article: Zodiac Constellations And Zodiac Signs.
Is the July 2026 Buck Moon a Supermoon?
No, the July 2026 Buck Moon is not a Supermoon. A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon happens near perigee — the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit. The next Supermoon will occur on November 24, 2026. You can learn more in our dedicated article: Supermoons 2026.
Will the July Full Moon look orange?
It can. The Moon often looks yellow, orange, pink, or red when it is low above the horizon because its light passes through more of Earth’s atmosphere. The effect is strongest around moonrise and moonset.
Will the July Full Moon be high in the sky?
For many Northern Hemisphere observers, the July Full Moon will stay relatively low in the sky. That’s because a Full Moon lies opposite the Sun: in July, the Sun is high in the northern sky, so the Full Moon traces a path similar to the winter Sun. In the Southern Hemisphere, where July is winter, the opposite is true — the July Full Moon climbs much higher.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon after the Buck Moon will occur on August 28, 2026, at 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT). Traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon, it will coincide with a deep partial lunar eclipse. You can read more in our dedicated article: Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse on August 27–28, 2026.
When is the next Buck Moon?
The Buck Moon is the Full Moon that occurs in July, so the next Buck Moon after July 29, 2026, will take place next year — on July 18, 2027, at 15:45 GMT/UTC (11:45 AM EDT).
July Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
To get the exact moonrise time and Moon phase for your location, launch Sky Tonight, tap the Calendar icon and open the Moon tab.
We wish you clear skies and successful observations!
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