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When to See the Full Moon in July 2024

July’s full Buck Moon will rise on Sunday, July 21, reaching peak illumination at 6:17 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.

→ Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see precisely when the Buck Moon will be visible in your area!

Why Is It Called the Buck Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s �������� 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. 

→&�Բ�����;See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.

Moon Phases for July 2024

Note that the Moon phase dates/times below are in EDT. 

→ See our Moon Phase Calendar to customize dates and times to your location.

July Moon Phase Dates and Times

	New Moon: July 5, 6:57 P.M. EDT
	First Quarter: July 13, 6:49 P.M. EDT
	Full Moon: July 21, 6:17 A.M. EDT
	Last Quarter: July 27, 10:52 P.M. EDT

→ For the next full Moon, see our Full Moon Dates chart.

July’s Full Buck Moon Video

In this video, we explain the traditional names of the Full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. Learn about the Full Buck Moon, why July is such an important month in Moon history, and how scientists measure the distance from Earth to the Moon. Click below to watch the video.

Best Days in July 2024

Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in July.

→&�Բ�����;See Best Days for more activities.

Moon Facts

• On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the Moon. He also placed the U.S. flag there.
• On July 31, 1999, the ashes of the astrogeologist Eugene Shoemaker were deposited on the Moon.

We leave you with a poem by James N. Matthews (1852–1910):

A moon-flooded prairie; a straying 
Of leal-hearted lovers; a baying 
Of far away watching dogs; a dreaming 
Of brown-fisted farmers; a gleaming 
Of fireflies eddying nigh, —
And that is July!

Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!