A buck moon will peak over IL, then a popular meteor shower. When to see it all

A full “buck” moon will peak over southwestern Illinois soon, and residents can also catch the beginnings of a popular meteor shower later this month.

July’s full moon is known as the buck moon because this time of year is when a male deer’s antlers are in full-growth mode, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Alternative names for the July moon include “Feather Moulting Moon” (Cree) and “Salmon Moon” (Tlingit), the almanac reports.

Many moon names come from Indigenous cultures, and the Old Farmer’s Almanac also uses names from Colonial American and European sources, the publication reports.

In addition to the buck moon, July will bring the beginning of the Perseid meteor shower, which the American Meteor Society describes as “the most popular meteor shower” of the year.

The Perseid shower will be active Monday, July 14 to Monday, Sept. 1, peaking around Tuesday, Aug. 12 or Wednesday, Aug. 13. The waning gibbous moon is expected to reduce the shower’s visibility this year, so you might only be able to see the Perseid’s brightest meteors.

Here’s when to see this year’s buck moon over Illinois, plus when to catch more full moons in 2025.

When will the buck moon peak?

The buck moon will peak at 3:37 p.m. Central Daylight Time Thursday, July 10, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Since the sun will be up at that time, you’ll likely get a better view later in the evening.

AccuWeather’s forecast says the night of July 10 will be clear in Belleville, with a low temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. The moon generally appears full the day before and after its peak illumination. For those planning to stargaze the night of Wednesday, July 9, you can expect rain and thunderstorms, AccuWeather reports, and the night of Friday, July 11 will be partly cloudy.

The moon will rise in Belleville at 8:51 p.m. July 10, according to online clock Time and Date.

When to see more full moons in 2025

After the buck moon, stargazers will have five more opportunities to see a full moon this year. Here’s when to look, from Astronomy.com:

Saturday, Aug. 9: Sturgeon moon

Sunday, Sept. 7: Corn moon

Monday, Oct. 6: Hunter’s moon (supermoon)

Wednesday, Nov. 5: Beaver moon (supermoon)

Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold moon (supermoon)

The St. Louis Astronomical Society will host a solar public telescope viewing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13 outside McDonnell Planetarium, weather-permitting.

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