The buck moon rises today as the eighth full moon of 2026. July's full moon is usually the seventh of the year, but because of May's second full moon – known as the rare blue moon – tonight's is the seventh. Last month, stargazers were treated to the strawberry moon, and earlier this month witnessed the beginning of the Perseid meteor shower, which will peak in mid-August.
When can I see the buck moon?
According to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, the buck moon will appear at its fullest at 3.36pm today. Unfortunately, it will be located just below the horizon at its peak, so a glimpse at that time is unlikely. However, with weather set to be clear across most of England on Wednesday, the moon will be visible as it rises throughout the evening and into the night – though not at its fullest.
What does the buck moon mean?
All full moons throughout the year are given unique names, and July's is no different. The names originate from Native Americans, who used each month's full moon as a calendar system to keep track of seasons. The buck moon is named after the male deer that shed antlers and regrow them throughout the month. It also has other names, including the thunder moon for summer storms and the hay moon after the hay harvest.
When is the next full moon in the UK?
If you miss this month's buck moon, there are plenty more full moons this year: the sturgeon moon on August 28 (5.18am), the harvest moon on September 26 (5.49pm), the hunter's moon on October 26 (4.12am), the beaver moon on November 24 (2.53pm), and the cold moon on December 24 (1.28am).
For more cosmic events, the Perseid meteor shower continues until August 24, peaking between August 12 and 13. On August 12, the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe will see a partial eclipse with about 90% of the sun covered by the moon, while viewers in Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain will experience a total eclipse.
