Why does the moon look so bright tonight? When and what to know about July 2025 full buck moon in Capricorn sign meaning — before Mercury Retrograde

The name “buck moon” is in reference to male deer, or bucks, which start to rapidly grow their antlers this time of year. This year’s buck moon reached its peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday, which is when it was fully visible and low on the horizon for stargazers in North America.

The July full moon shone brightly over Greece's 2,500-year-old Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion late Thursday. (AP video: Srdjan Nedeljkovic)

On July 10, 2025, the Full Buck Moon will illuminate the sky in the down-to-earth and ambitious sign of Capricorn. This first full moon of the summer arrives as a gentle reminder to reflect on our achievements and to adjust our course with wisdom and ...

Experts say July’s full moon could reduce sleep by up to 20 minutes on the evening of the 10th and as much as 90 minutes in the days leading up to and following it. Scientists in Switzerland previously found that, on the night of the full moon, people take on average five more minutes to fall asleep.