The Buck Moon rises tonight, 29 July 2026, marking the full Moon at the height of summer.
Because the Buck Moon reaches peak illumination – the time when it is most 'full' – at 15:36 UTC, for many observers this will occur when the Moon is below the horizon.
But when it does finally rise in the summer sky, the Buck Moon will still be a full Moon, providing a beautiful celestial sight that's best enjoyed with the naked eye.
The Buck Moon is so-called because July is the time of year when male deer – 'bucks' – begin to grow their antlers.
More on the Buck Moon
Summer full Moons are trickier to see than winter full Moons because all full Moons rise at sunset – which is later in summer than in winter – and also because they never rise very far above the horizon.
So if you're observing the 2026 Buck Moon in Northern Hemisphere, you'll need to find a clear southern horizon to watch it rise and track across the southern sky.
If you're observing the Buck Moon in the Southern Hemisphere, it will rise much higher in the sky and be easier to see.
For Northern Hemisphere viewers, the low-lying full Moon could give you a sight of the eye-catching Moon illusion and also make the Moon take on an orange-red hue.
Here are the Moonrise times for the 2026 Buck Moon for key cities across the globe.
| Region | City | Rise time |
|---|---|---|
| North America | New York | 20:33 EDT |
| Los Angeles | 20:18 PST | |
| Chicago | 20:31 CST | |
| Houston | 20:35 CST | |
| Toronto | 21:02 EDT | |
| Mexico City | 19:35 CST | |
| Europe | London | 21:07 BST |
| Edinburgh | 21:40 BST | |
| Cardiff | 21:00 BST | |
| Belfast | 21:28 BST | |
| Dublin | 21:40 IST | |
| Berlin | 21:16 CEST | |
| Paris | 21:46 CEST | |
| Asia, Middle East | New Delhi | 19:16 IST |
| Dubai | 19:09 GST | |
| Tokyo | 18:46 JST | |
| Oceania | Sydney | 16:46 AEST |
| Melbourne | 17:02 AEST | |
| Auckland | 17:00 NZST | |
| South America | São Paulo | 17:51 BRT |
| Buenos Aires | 18:18 ART | |
| Lima | 18:16 PET | |
| Africa | Johannesburg | 17:36 SAST |
| Lagos | 19:12 WAT | |
| Cairo | 19:57 EEST |
Share your observations and images of the 2026 Buck Moon by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
