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Indianapolis Star
09-07-2025
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
How to see the 'Moon Illusion' when July's full moon rises in Indiana
Now that the fireworks are done with (sort of), another celestial object will brighten this week's evening skies: the full Buck Moon. July's full moon will be especially low on the horizon, too, creating what's known as the "Moon Illusion." Here's what skywatchers should know. Thursday, July 10 is when the full Buck Moon charges its way into the night sky, according to NASA. The moon's phases in July 2025 are: There's something neat that happens when the full moon is closer to the horizon; it looks HUGE. Especially when you glimpse it poking out above a treeline, mountains, buildings or bodies of water. But here's the thing: It's an optical illusion. The full moon isn't larger when it's near the horizon any more than when it's positioned directly overhead, writes NASA. Our brain tricks us into thinking the moon is bigger because of how we perceive its depth in relation to the other objects around it. This phenomenon is known as the "Moon Illusion." Story continues after photo gallery. You can prove the illusion for yourself by changing the way you look at the moon: In either case, the moon won't appear as big as it once seemed. July's full moon is going to appear lower on the horizon. The reason is that the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." Skies around Central Indiana are expected to be partly cloudy Thursday night, July 10, with lows around 69 in the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Midwest weather tends to be fickle, however, so keep your fingers crossed for clearer skies. And in case you miss it Thursday, look up again Friday or Saturday night, when the moon will still be 99% and 97% full, respectively. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 9:39 p.m. Thursday, July 10, crossing the meridian at 1:19 a.m. before setting at 5:46 a.m. Friday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. A male deer, or buck's antlers were in full growth mode around this time in July, writes the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other names for July's full moon from Native American tribes include the Salmon Moon, Thunder Moon, and Halfway Summer Moon. You may have noticed the moon occasionally takes on a dramatic shade of orange or red in the night sky. That's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere. When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface. Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing. You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025: The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How to see the 'Moon Illusion' when July's full moon rises in Indiana
Now that the fireworks are done with (sort of), another celestial object will brighten this week's evening skies: the full Buck Moon. July's full moon will be especially low on the horizon, too, creating what's known as the "Moon Illusion." Here's what skywatchers should know. Thursday, July 10 is when the full Buck Moon charges its way into the night sky, according to NASA. The moon's phases in July 2025 are: 🌓 First Quarter: July 2. 🌕 Full Moon: July 10. 🌗 Last Quarter: July 18. 🌑 New Moon: July 24. There's something neat that happens when the full moon is closer to the horizon; it looks HUGE. Especially when you glimpse it poking out above a treeline, mountains, buildings or bodies of water. But here's the thing: It's an optical illusion. The full moon isn't larger when it's near the horizon any more than when it's positioned directly overhead, writes NASA. Our brain tricks us into thinking the moon is bigger because of how we perceive its depth in relation to the other objects around it. This phenomenon is known as the "Moon Illusion." Story continues after photo gallery. You can prove the illusion for yourself by changing the way you look at the moon: First, look at the full moon normally when it's close to the horizon. Next, gaze at it through a cardboard tube, blocking out everything except the moon. Or try looking at the full moon while upside down, which can be done if you bend over and look back between your legs, or, if you've got it in your yard, leaning over backwards while seated on a swing. In either case, the moon won't appear as big as it once seemed. July's full moon is going to appear lower on the horizon. The reason is that the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." Skies around Central Indiana are expected to be partly cloudy Thursday night, July 10, with lows around 69 in the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Midwest weather tends to be fickle, however, so keep your fingers crossed for clearer skies. And in case you miss it Thursday, look up again Friday or Saturday night, when the moon will still be 99% and 97% full, respectively. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 9:39 p.m. Thursday, July 10, crossing the meridian at 1:19 a.m. before setting at 5:46 a.m. Friday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. A male deer, or buck's antlers were in full growth mode around this time in July, writes the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other names for July's full moon from Native American tribes include the Salmon Moon, Thunder Moon, and Halfway Summer Moon. You may have noticed the moon occasionally takes on a dramatic shade of orange or red in the night sky. That's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere. When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface. Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing. You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025: July 21 & 22 – Moon, Venus & Jupiter – You can find the crescent moon and the planet Venus toward the east in the morning sky. With a clear view toward the horizon you can also spot Jupiter low in the sky. July 28 – Moon & Mars – The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars after sunset. All month – Constellation: Aquila – You can spot the Eagle constellation, Aquila, in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night, writes NASA. Its brightest star, Altair, is the southernmost star in the Summer Triangle, which is an easy-to-locate star pattern in Northern Hemisphere summer skies. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name. John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@ Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to enjoy the 'Moon Illusion' during July's full moon
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Missed the Strawberry Moon last night? Here's where, when to see it tonight in Illinois
Many people across the country photographed the Strawberry Moon this morning, watching as the moon reached its peak at 2:44 a.m. CT. But don't worry if you missed it – the phenomenon will still be partially visible tonight. Avid skywatchers can also spot the Milky Way, the "bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August. Here's what stargazers in Illinois should know. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, into Wednesday early morning hours is when the sweet Strawberry Moon was at its fullest, but it'll still appear mostly full Wednesday night. The moon's phases in June are: 🌓 First Quarter: June 3 🌕 Full Moon: June 11 🌗 Last Quarter: June 18 🌑 New Moon: June 25 June's Strawberry moon will be the lowest full moon in roughly 20 years, so look closer toward the horizon. Experts say the moon's low arc should give it a more yellowish or orange tint. Story continues after photo gallery. The reason the moon will appear lower is because the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," writes EarthSky, which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." The last major lunar standstill occurred in 2006. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Peoria area will happen by roughly 9:28 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 12:52 a.m. before setting at 5:12 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Skies in central Illinois are expected to be partly cloudy Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 64 and winds around 7 mph, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. State parks and campgrounds are your best bet for clear stargazing, in locations such as Campsite 26 at Apple River Canyon State Park and the Area 4 Parking Lot at Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. A full list of the best stargazing spots in Illinois can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website. For those in Chicago, stars will be more visible on the city lakefront, the Palos Preserves in Willow Springs and the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, according to a list compiled by the Adler Planetarium. If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025: June 16, 17 – Mars & Regulus – Mars passes closer to the bright bluish-white star Regulus, known as the "heart" of the lion constellation, Leo. They will appear about as far apart as the width of the full moon, and should be easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope. June 19 – Moon & Saturn – The third-quarter moon appears right next to Saturn on Thursday morning in the hours before dawn, according to NASA. They rise in the east together at around 1:30 a.m. June 20 – June Solstice – The summer solstice is on June 20 in the northern hemisphere, tilting its maximum toward the Sun. This means the Sun will travel its longest, highest arc across the sky all year, writes NASA, resulting in the longest period of daylight for those north of the equator. June 21-30 – Mercury becomes visible – For those with a clear view to the western horizon, Mercury becomes visible for a brief period each evening at the end of June. Look for it to appear low in the sky starting 30 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets. June 22 – Moon & Venus – Venus rises this morning next to a slender and elegant crescent moon. Look for them in the east between about 3 a.m. and sunrise. All month – Mars: The Red Planet can be observed for a couple of hours after dark all month. It is noticeably dimmer than it appeared in early May, as Earth speeds away in its orbit, putting greater distance between the two worlds. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025. Julia Gomez contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Strawberry Moon 2025: weather forecast, moonrise time, spots to see Milky Way
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look up tonight! Wednesday's full moon in Indiana will be the lowest in 20 years
If you're out and about Wednesday evening, take a moment to gaze up at the night sky. Experts say the full Strawberry Moon will shine at its lowest orbit in roughly 20 years. Avid skywatchers can also spot the Milky Way, the "bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August. Here's what skywatchers should know. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, into Wednesday early morning hours is when the sweet Strawberry Moon was at its fullest, but it'll still appear mostly full Wednesday night. The moon's phases in June are: 🌓 First Quarter: June 3. 🌕 Full Moon: June 11. 🌗 Last Quarter: June 18. 🌑 New Moon: June 25. June's Strawberry moon will be the lowest full moon in roughly 20 years, so look closer toward the horizon. Experts say the moon's low arc should give it a more yellowish or orange tint. Story continues after photo gallery. The reason the moon will appear lower is because the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," writes EarthSky, which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." The last major lunar standstill occurred in 2006. More about June 2025's full moon: It's been years since you've seen one that looks like this. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 10:09 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 1:38 a.m. before setting at 6:01 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Skies around Central Indiana are expected to be partly cloudy Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 64, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing. You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025: June 16, 17 – Mars & Regulus – Mars passes closer to the bright bluish-white star Regulus, known as the "heart" of the lion constellation, Leo. They will appear about as far apart as the width of the full moon, and should be easy to spot with binoculars or a small telescope. June 19 – Moon & Saturn – The third-quarter moon appears right next to Saturn on Thursday morning in the hours before dawn, according to NASA. They rise in the east together at around 1:30 a.m. June 20 – June Solstice – The summer solstice is on June 20 in the northern hemisphere, tilting its maximum toward the Sun. This means the Sun will travel its longest, highest arc across the sky all year, writes NASA, resulting in the longest period of daylight for those north of the equator. June 21-30 – Mercury becomes visible – For those with a clear view to the western horizon, Mercury becomes visible for a brief period each evening at the end of June. Look for it to appear low in the sky starting 30 to 45 minutes after the Sun sets. June 22 – Moon & Venus – Venus rises this morning next to a slender and elegant crescent moon. Look for them in the east between about 3 a.m. and sunrise. All month – Mars: The Red Planet can be observed for a couple of hours after dark all month. It is noticeably dimmer than it appeared in early May, as Earth speeds away in its orbit, putting greater distance between the two worlds. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025. When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name. John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@ Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: The Strawberry full moon shines low tonight. How to see it in Indiana
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Missed the strawberry moon? Here's when the next full moon will be
Skies lit up with a rare strawberry moon on June 10, but some may not have seen the celestial phenomenon. The full moon, which appeared in hues of orange and red, peaked around 3:44 a.m. ET on June 11, but it was advised to check it out on the evening of June 10. The strawberry moon is the most colorful of the year because it takes a low and shallow path across the sky, said Bob Bonadurer, director of the Milwaukee Public Museum's planetarium. The full moon's arc across the sky means moonlight must travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere, which can give it a colorful tint, he added. The moon gets its "strawberry" name from the Native American Algonquian tribes, who lived in the northwestern United States, according to the Almanac, and not from the color. The Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota tribes also used the name, which marked the wild strawberries season in June. The full moon is also unique because it appeared lower due to the Earth being in "a major lunar standstill," according to EarthSky, which impacts the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." The last major lunar standstill occurred in 2006. In case you missed the strawberry moon, it might be partially visible on the night of July 12. Meanwhile, here is when the rest of 2025's full moons are expected: July 10- Buck Moon Aug. 9- Sturgeon Moon Sept. 7- Harvest Moon Oct. 6- Hunter's Moon Nov. 5- Beaver Moon Dec. 4- Cold Moon Summer solstice with a treat: How to see the full strawberry moon Contributing: Julia Gomez, Doyle Rice, Janet Loehrke & Carlie Procell / USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missed the strawberry moon? Here's the 2025 full moon schedule
