Buck Moon Continues to Shine; Partial Eclipse Looms in August

The night sky will offer a celestial spectacle as the "Buck Moon" continues its visibility on Wednesday, July 29. This full moon, which reached its peak astronomical phase at 10:36 a.m. EDT, will maintain a nearly full appearance throughout the evening.

The "Buck Moon" derives its name from the time of year when male deer, or bucks, grow their antlers. July's full moon also carries other traditional names, including "Thunder Moon," referencing the frequent storms during this month, and "Salmon Moon" or "Halfway Summer Moon."

Following the Buck Moon, skywatchers can anticipate a partial lunar eclipse on the night of August 27 and into the early morning of August 28. During this event, approximately 93% of the lunar disk will pass through Earth's darkest shadow, the umbra. While a significant portion of the moon will be obscured, it will be classified as a partial eclipse, as the entire disk will not enter the umbra.

This eclipse will coincide with the next full moon, known as the "Sturgeon Moon." The eclipse is expected to be visible across a large part of North America. The penumbral phase will begin at 1:23 UTC on August 28, with the partial phase starting at 2:33 UTC. The eclipse will reach its maximum coverage at 4:13 UTC, and the partial phase will last for about three hours and 18 minutes.