On Wednesday, “The Full Buck Moon” will appear brighter in the sky than any other full moon in all of 2022.
The moon will not only be bright, but it will also be at its nearest point to Earth in 2022. Tonight the moon’s orbit will be at its “perigee” at just 222,089 miles away from Earth.
Even though it will still be below the horizon for North America, the moon will reach its peak illumination at 2:38 p.m. EDT, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The moon will appear full for three days until July 15.
How to watch
If you want to get a good look at the buck supermoon, your best bet is to find a spot with an unobstructed view of the eastern sky. This month, the supermoon will appear slightly further south, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
For the best viewing, try to find a park or open space where you can get away from artificial light if you live in a city or suburb.
To determine when the supermoon will rise in your area, use The Old Farmer’s Almanac Moonrise and Moonset Calculator.
How did the Full Buck Moon get its name?
The Full Buck Moon was named in reference to the time when male deer’s antlers finish forming and begin to harden, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.
It also is called the Full Hay Moon, referring to the time for farmers to cut and cure hay to prepare for winter.
The almanac explained that the moon might also be called the Full Thunder Moon due to the number of thunderstorms during July.
Link: https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/moon-rise-and-set
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