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July 2026 Full Buck Moon: Meaning, Peak Time, and July Moon Traditions

full buck moon, july full moon, the old farmer's almanac
Photo Credit
Colleen Quinnell/The Old Farmer's Almanac

Uncover the story behind the Buck Moon and what makes July an important month in Moon lore.

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Ready for a little midsummer magic? The Full Buck Moon rises on July 29, 2026! See more information about July’s Full Moon, from why we call it the “Buck” Moon to the best days for activities based on the Moon’s sign and phase in July.

When to See the Full Moon in July 2026

July’s Full Buck Moon will rise on Wednesday, July 29, reaching peak illumination at 10:36 A.M. Eastern Time. It will be below the horizon at that time, so plan to look towards the southeast after sunset to watch it rise into the sky.

→ Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see precisely when the Buck Moon will be visible in your area!

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Why Is It Called the Buck Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each Full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.

The Buck Moon

The Full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by.

Alternative July Moon Names

Several other names for this month’s Full Moon also reference animals, including Feather Moulting Moon (Cree) and Salmon Moon, a Tlingit term indicating when fish returned to the area and were ready to be harvested.

Plants are also featured prominently in July’s Moon names. Some of our favorites are Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe (Dakota), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe).

Thunder Moon (Western Abenaki) and Halfway Summer Moon (Anishinaabe) are alternative variants that refer to the stormy weather and summer season. 

→ See all 12 months of Full Moon names and meanings.

Moon Phases for July 2026

July 2026 Moon Phases

Note that the Moon phase dates/times below are in EDT. 

→ See our Moon Phase Calendar to customize dates and times to your location.

July Moon Phase Dates and Times
Last Quarter: July 7, 3:29 P.M. EDT
New Moon: July 14, 5:43 A.M. EDT
First Quarter: July 21, 7:05 A.M. EDT
Full Moon: July 29, 10:36 A.M. EDT

→ For the next Full Moon, see our Full Moon Dates chart.

July’s Full Buck Moon Video

In this video, we explain the traditional names of the Full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. Learn about the Full Buck Moon, why July is such an important month in Moon history, and how scientists measure the distance from Earth to the Moon. Click below to watch the video.

Best Days in July 2026

Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in July.

ActivityBest Days
Cutting Hay6-8
Setting Eggs1, 2, 28, 29
Fishing14-29

→ See Best Days for more activities.

Moon Facts

  • On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the Moon. He also placed the U.S. flag there.
  • On July 31, 1999, the ashes of the astrogeologist Eugene Shoemaker were deposited on the Moon.

We leave you with a poem by James N. Matthews (1852–1910):

A moon-flooded prairie; a straying 
Of leal-hearted lovers; a baying 
Of far away watching dogs; a dreaming 
Of brown-fisted farmers; a gleaming 
Of fireflies eddying nigh, —
And that is July!

Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!

Full Moon Names
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>James Simon</span> Fri, 07/04/2025 - 11:47
When to plant vining cucumbers
<span>Rachel Lane</span> Thu, 07/14/2022 - 01:29
My husband and I watched the moon come up over the horizon. It was dark strawberry in color, then blood plum, tangerine and then grapefruit. He doesn't get too excited over the moon rising and tonight he couldn't stop telling me to look; truly mesmerizing.
<span>Lynda Sue</span> Sun, 08/29/2021 - 21:22
Good afternoon, Where is it that I may order a print of the Full Buck Moon print? Looking forward to hearing some great news of where I may find this amazing print. Lynda Sue
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 08/31/2021 - 14:54

Hi Lynda,

Prints of our Full Moon graphics are not currently for sale, but we will let you know if they do become available!

 <span>Odell</span> Sat, 07/19/2025 - 01:18
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone! My site: 정품 비아그라
<span>Samantha Gray</span> Fri, 07/23/2021 - 13:02
We have a small town beach on the north shore of Long Island Sound about 5 minutes by car from our home. We love to take iced tea and go down to watch the sunset on hot evenings and take a late dip, and wave across the water at Connecticut on the mainland. On one side of the small parking lot is the Sound, and on the other, a brackish large pond. There is a 365 degree of the horizon (plus or minus a few trees on the periphery), so it's a great spot to sky watch as well. We were down the other evening and I saw a number of sparkling lights arising from the tree line on the other side of the pond. At first, it appeared that fireflies had awakened for their evening flights. Then it became clear that the lights were airplanes arriving and leaving Kennedy airport, about 30 miles away on the south shore. When the fireflies did begin to arise from the reeds and weeds at the pond's edge it looked like the sky was filled with twinkling glitter. Aaaahh, July on Long Island!
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<span>Malcolm</span> Fri, 07/03/2020 - 12:29
I was taught this poem as a child in the 1950s and have never forgotten it. I have been unable to find who wrote it so maybe it was a family creation, passed down from one generation to the next. Look at the Moon with its orange glow, So round and big and oh, so low, It seems to hang on a nearby tree, Like a shining apple, meant for me, I reach out my hand, but hard as I try, Alas, I can't pluck it, it's far too high.
<span>Teri</span> Wed, 07/03/2024 - 10:52
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<span>Marybeth</span> Mon, 07/15/2019 - 13:40
I love watching full moon videos...fun information. Amy does a very nice job as the host!