Buck Moon 2026 signals a July-to-August eclipse season

July’s Buck Moon reaches full on July 29, 2026—the second full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere—setting the stage for a busy eclipse stretch that includes a total solar eclipse on August 12 and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28. The moon peaks at 10:37 a.m. EDT and remains bright on surrounding nights, with viewing best around southeast moonrise in North America. Named for deer antlers, it’s also called Thunder Moon and Hay Moon, and is among the year’s lowest-hanging full moons in the region. The next full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, rises August 27 and will be partially eclipsed as Earth’s shadow passes over it. Viewing can be done with the naked eye or a telescope, and sky-watchers can expect a continued eclipse season into August.