Buck Moon Will Look Huge Over Montana Skies

So if the moon looks freakishly big this week, have no fear, you aren’t going insane. It’s simply July’s full moon in all its glory. Or, as it’s called, the Buck Moon. And Montana? We’ve got a front-row seat.

This one is active on Thursday, July 10th, peaking at 4:37 PM. But don’t worry about the exact time. Step outside tomorrow night, wait until a little after sunset, and look east. That giant glowing orb sliding up over the mountains? That’s it.

So why does it look massive?

Short answer: it is an optical illusion. The moon is not any bigger, but when it hangs low on the horizon, our brains freak out and perceive it as immense. It’s just one of those weird brain things.

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So what’s with the yellow and the drama?

That orange hue you see when the moon’s rising? That’s because its light has more atmosphere to cut through. That longer path filters out the blue stuff. Smoke, dust, or whatever’s up in the air adds to the mood. Nature’s filter, in other words, is working.

Is it a supermoon?

Nope. But because Earth just reached its farthest point from the sun, the moon is too. It’s like everything’s stretched out. Doesn’t make it any less cool to look at, though.

Where did the name “Buck Moon” come from?

Bucks. As in deer. This is when their antlers really start getting impressive, and some farmer ten million years ago thought that was worth naming a moon after. Fair enough.

It might make a great night for a backyard beer and some sky-watching. You won’t need a telescope, just your eyeballs (and possibly a hoodie if you’re outside past 10).