Be sure to head out this weekend to see the July full moon!
Known as the Buck Moon, the full moon will reach peak illumination in the U.S. at 6:17 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 21. The full moon will still be visible throughout the weekend, from Friday night through Monday morning.
The term “Buck Moon” is a reference to male deer, also called bucks. In late spring, male deer begin to grow new antlers, and these new antlers, covered in velvety fur, can be fully visible by July, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The name “Buck Moon” comes from the Algonquian tribes who lived in what is now the northeastern U.S., according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The July full moon also has other names. Some indigenous groups nicknamed him Salmon Moon because its timing aligns with the salmon run, which is when fish migrate upstream each year. Others called him Thunder Moon because of frequent early summer thunderstorms. Europeans refer to the full moon as the Hay moon because the beginning of summer is normally when harvesting occurs.
This year’s Buck Moon coincides with a significant space moment: the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. As Armstrong descended the ladder to take his first human steps on the moon, he famously said: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for all humanity.” More than half a billion people watched the historic moment on television.
O next full moon after this weekend will take place on August 19th. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, it will also be visible for about three days, from the morning of Aug. 18 through the morning of Aug. 21, according to NASA.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
