July will bring a sighting of the 'Swift Planet', the Buck Moon and a meteor shower. Watch for these dates
Mercury, the fastest-moving planet in our solar system, will make a rare and optimal appearance, providing a chance to spot it near the western horizon. Halfway through the month, the Buck Moon will illuminate the night sky. Toward the end of July, the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower will peak.
Here's what else to know.
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, always appears near it in the sky and often fades into the sun's glare. On July 4, however, Mercury will reach its greatest elongation — the farthest apparent distance from the sun — offering sky gazers a view of the "Swift Planet."
To spot Mercury, look toward the western horizon shortly after sunset, said EarthSky. It will be positioned low in the sky, while Mars, shining as brightly as a first-magnitude star, will be higher up in the evening twilight.
Why is it the "Swift Planet"? According to the National Air and Space Museum, Mercury is known as the "Swift Planet" because of how fast it travels through space, 29 miles per second. It's the fastest planet in the Solar System.
July's full moon, known as the Buck Moon, rises on July 10. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the moon will reach peak illumination at 3:37 p.m. CT.
The July full moon's name is inspired by the seasonal cycle of male deer, or bucks, whose antlers reach their full growth during this time. The almanac attributes full moon names to a variety of origins, including Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions. Historically, these names referred to the entire lunar month rather than just the full moon itself.
Several other names for July's 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, wrote the almanac.
The Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower begins in mid-July and lasts until late August.
According to NASA, the faint meteors can be hard to spot, especially if the moon is shining. The best chance to see them is during their peak on July 29–30, when meteor activity is highest. Under dark, moon-free skies, you may observe 7–8 meteors per hour traveling at 26 miles per second. In 2025, a waxing crescent moon will set early, making the morning hours ideal for viewing, said the American Meteor Society.
Similar to May's Eta Aquariids, the Southern Delta Aquariids are more prominent in the Southern Hemisphere, though they can still be observed from locations such as the southern United States, said EarthSky.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is the next full moon? July brings the Buck Moon, meteor shower
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