The Full Moon of July 2026 is set to deliver one of the most breathtaking spectacles of the summer, as the so-called “Buck Moon” illuminates the night sky on Wednesday, July 29. This celestial event carries special significance, as it marks the last major lunar event before the total solar eclipse on August 12 and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Astronomy enthusiasts will have the chance to witness a stunning full moon — the perfect warm-up act for the rare celestial phenomena set to follow within the next month.
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July 2026 full moon: When will the Buck Moon appear?
The Moon will reach its full phase on July 29, 2026, at 17:37 Greek time, with the best viewing window occurring shortly after sunset, when it rises low on the southeastern horizon. This is the second full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the eighth of thirteen full moons taking place throughout 2026.
The name “Buck Moon” originates from North America and is tied to the season when male deer begin regrowing their antlers. Other cultures, however, have their own names for this full moon. The indigenous Cree people call it the “Feather Moulting Moon,” while for the Tlingit it is known as the “Salmon Moon.”
Experts recommend that those wishing to enjoy the spectacle find an elevated vantage point, an open location, or a coastline with a clear southeastern horizon. As it rises, the Moon will appear impressively larger due to the well-known “lunar illusion” — an optical phenomenon that makes Earth’s natural satellite look far bigger when it sits close to the horizon.
The connection to the total solar eclipse and the Perseids
This year’s full moon holds particular astronomical significance, as it occurs exactly two weeks before the total solar eclipse on August 12. At that point, the Moon will position itself directly between the Earth and the Sun, creating one of the most important astronomical events of the year.
The path of totality will begin in the Arctic and sweep across northern Russia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and the Atlantic Ocean before reaching northern Spain, with a small section of northeastern Portugal also falling within the path of the total eclipse. Near Iceland, totality will last approximately two minutes and 18 seconds, allowing observers to see the solar corona — the Sun’s outer atmosphere — with the naked eye.
Across the rest of Europe, as well as parts of northwestern Africa, Canada, and the northern United States, a partial solar eclipse will be visible. Experts remind skywatchers that observing the eclipse requires certified eclipse glasses or special solar filters, and that these may only be removed during the brief window of complete totality and exclusively within the zone where totality is visible.
What makes this summer truly remarkable is that the total solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, expected during the night of August 12–13. This summer therefore offers a rare sequence of celestial highlights, set to conclude on August 28 with the next full moon — known as the “Sturgeon Moon” — accompanied by a deep partial lunar eclipse, during which approximately 96% of the Moon’s surface will be covered by Earth’s shadow, giving it a distinctive dark reddish hue.
