As the summer sun begins to set this evening, the Super Buck Moon will rise and illuminate the sky! Shortly after sunset, the first full super moon of the year will take place. In 2023, there will be four supermoons on July 3, August 1, August 31, and September 29. While tonight’s moon may appear to be full for up to three days, it will reach its absolute peak on Monday, July 3 at 7:39 a.m. EDT.
What is a Supermoon?
According to Earth.com, Astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term “supermoon” in 1979. He described it as “a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee).”
Why is it called a Buck Moon?
Tonight’s super moon is called a Buck Moon . It gets its name after the new antlers that begin to grow from the forehead of a buck deer at this time of year. After shedding their antlers in late winter or early spring, they regrow again in the summer months.
However, the buck moon goes by many names depending upon where you are in the world. For instance, it is called the Hay Moon to the Anglo-Saxons. It is also called the Claiming, Wyrt, Herb, and Mead Moon in other parts of the world.
Look up at the sky!
Tonight is the night to pause and look up at the sky, basking in the beauty of the moon. For those who will not be able to see it, astronomer Gianluca Masi and the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome, Italy will be livestreaming the Full Buck Moon in the night sky tonight for skywatchers unable to witness the first supermoon of 2023 in person.
The livestream begins at 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Monday (July 3). Watch it here courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project or on the project’s YouTube channel.
Markedly, in Philadelphia, the moon is expected to rise at 9:24pm tonight. You can track the rise of the moon by visiting here.
Indeed, it will be an illuminating experience!