Full Buck Moon Is A Supermoon: When To Watch In Washington

SEATTLE — Sunny skies and clear nights stretch as far as the forecast can see in Western Washington, and the pleasant streak of summer weather will set the perfect stage for stargazing. Puget Sound residents who enjoy such dreamy pursuits are in for a special treat with the full buck moon this week: It’s a supermoon.

Not only that, the July full moon will be the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year. It reaches peak illumination at 11:39 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time Wednesday but will be well below the horizon when that happens. Plan on looking toward the southeast sky after sunset to see it rise in the sky, where it will still be plenty bright.

And not only that, meteor showers are starting up again. The Delta Aquariids start Tuesday and continue through Aug. 2, peaking July 28-29. Moonless skies will make the peak worth catching.

Back to this week's supermoon: AccuWeather’s weekly forecast calls for sunny days and mostly cloud-free nights through at least Friday, and the National Weather Service expects clear skies for the big show Wednesday.

The supermoon will be visible starting at moonrise, 9:50 p.m., and will appear full through Friday morning.

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If you miss it, there’s one more chance this summer to see a full moon that qualifies as a supermoon. The full sturgeon moon in August will also be a supermoon.

Supermoon isn’t an astronomical term, but one coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 to explain the effect of perigee — the moon’s closest approach to Earth in a given orbit — when it occurs during a full moon.

The July full moon is called a bull buck moon because it’s the time of year the antlers of male deer are in full growth. Deer shed and regrow their antlers every year, “producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

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