A full "Buck" Moon makes an appearance on Tuesday night, July 19. Native Americans call the July moon a "Buck Moon" because it is the time of the year when a buck deer gains a pair of new, fuzzy antlers.
At 6:57 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday night, the moon will reach its technical fullness prior to becoming visible in the eastern sky. The moon will still be full as it rises in New York at 8:03 p.m., in Washington at 8:12 p.m. and in Cleveland at 8:37 p.m. Residents in Los Angeles can also view the Full Buck Moon at 7:52 p.m. Pacific time while folks in Chicago can witness the event at 8:02 p.m. Central time.
On Wednesday evening, July 20, folks can still enjoy the sights of an almost full Buck Moon just in case Tuesday evening becomes particularly cloudy.
The moon in July is also called the Full Thunder Moon because of the frequent thunderstorms during this month. A third name — Hay Moon — is also given to the moon for the month of July because it signals the time when farmers are working hard to get their hay safely inside barns in anticipation of the thunderstorms during the month.
Based on the Farmers' Almanac, the monthly full moon has many names. The full moon in January is called the "Full Wolf Moon" because during the deep snows and freezing cold in the midwinter, packs of wolves would howl hungrily just outside the Indian villages. It is also called "Moon After Yule" or "Old Moon."
February's full moon is given the name "Full Snow Moon" because this is the time of the year when snowfalls are usually the heaviest. It is sometimes called "Full Hunger Moon" because this is also the time when some tribes find it difficult to hunt for food, hence the hunger.
The full moon in March is called the "Full Worm Moon" because at this time, the ground starts to soften and earthworms start to reappear. This phenomenon then invites the robins' return. Other names include "Full Crown Moon" because the crows' cawing is taken as the sign of winter's end; "Full Crust Moon" because of the crusted snow covers; and "Full Sap Moon" because it marks the time when maple trees start to tap.
April's full moon is called "Full Pink Moon" as it marks the budding of wild ground phlox, which is one of spring's earliest widespread flora and is colored a beautiful shade of pink. Other names include "Full Sprouting Grass Moon," "Egg Moon" and the "Full Fish Moon."
The full moon in May is called the "Full Flower Moon" which highlights the abundance of flowers during the month. Other names include "Milk Moon" and "Full Corn Planting Moon." June's full moon is called the "Full Strawberry Moon" because it signals the time to gather ripe fruits among the Algonquin tribes. In Europe, tribes call it the "Full Moon" and the "Honey Moon."
August's full moon is called the "Full Sturgeon Moon" because the sturgeons in the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and other areas are easily caught. Other names include "Grain Moon," "Green Corn Moon" and "Full Red Moon." The full moon in September is called the "Full Harvest Moon" as it signals the harvest time for chief staples among Indian communities such as corn, squash, beans, wild rice and pumpkin.
October's is called the "Full Hunter's Moon" as it signals the time to hunt while November's is called the "Full Beaver Moon" because it marks the time to set beaver traps, ensuring the supply of warm winter furs. Others call it the "Frosty Moon." Lastly, the full moon in December is called the "Long Night Moon" describing the long midwinter nights as well as the moon's extended time above the horizon. It is also called the "Moon Before Yule."
