July’s full moon, dubbed the Buck Moon, reaches peak fullness on 10 July 2025, at 22:37 SAST here in South Africa.
That means Thursday night’s moon is the real deal, and the brightest it will get all month.
July’s full Buck Moon
Skywatchers in Cape Town and Johannesburg can expect the moon to rise shortly after sunset, casting a warm glow across the winter sky.
Unlike our Northern counterparts, where the Buck Moon rides low near the horizon, we see it ascend high.
Viewing the Buck Moon from SA
In places like Cape Town, the Buck Moon climbs nearly overhead (about 79° above the southern horizon at around midnight).
That makes it look brighter and bigger than the low-riding lunar view up north.
Plus, skywatchers might catch it alongside the Scorpius constellation and its star Antares, offering a stunning celestial double act
How to catch the moment
Thursday night after sunset is your best shot. No telescope required; just find a clear view to the east and watch the moon rise.
When it’s low in the sky, it may appear larger and more amber-colored. That’s the moon illusion paired with atmospheric haze.
A pair of binoculars will make details like craters and maria pop.
Fun Fact:
Maria (singular: mare) are the large, dark, flat plains you see on the surface of the Moon. They were formed by ancient volcanic eruptions and are less reflective than the highlands, which is why they appear darker.They’re not seas, even though “maria” means “seas” in Latin. Early astronomers thought they were oceans, hence the name — but they’re actually vast basaltic plains.So when you look at the full moon with binoculars or a telescope, those big grey patches you see? That’s the maria.
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Why it’s called ‘Buck Moon’
The name stems from a natural milestone: male deer, or bucks, growing fresh antlers around July.
It’s also sometimes known as the Thunder Moon, nodding to the summer storms common in July (in the northern hemisphere).
These traditional names for full moons come from the Old Farmer’s Almanac and are rooted in seasonal changes observed by early Native American communities.
June’s moon, for example, is known as the Strawberry moon.
July’s full moon is practically begging for attention, so take this as a reminder to step outside on Thursday, after dark.
