July full moon 2024: Buck Moon puts on dramatic show for skywatchers worldwide (photos)
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July's full moon captivated skywatchers worldwide as it shone brightly over the weekend.
A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun. It officially reached full illumination at 6:17 a.m. EDT (1017 GMT) on July 21 but still appears relatively full for a few days around the peak.
The July full moon is also known as the Buck Moon or the Thunder Moon, the former because it coincides with the time of year when male deer antlers are in full growth and the latter because it is also when thunderstorms are common in many parts of the world.
Related: Look up! See the moon meet Saturn, watch for shooting stars and find the Northern Crown this week
Photographer Robbie Pesiwarissa sent us this beautiful photograph of the full moon rising at Sydney Harbour, Australia on July 21.
"It was a cold and windy day, hard to keep the camera steady even on a tripod," Pesiwarissa told Space.com in an email.
Pesiwarissa had to battle not only the elements but also a lot of traffic on the water including from large cruise ships which temporarily blocked the view.
"Luckily I managed to capture a smaller sailboat that adds interest to the picture," Pesiwarissa continued.
The next day at dawn Pesiwarissa set out to capture the full moon once again, this time the image was photobombed not by a boat but by a cheeky seagull!
In Turkey, the full moon shared the sky with dozens of hot-air balloons gliding over the historical Cappadocia region in Anatolia.
Photographer Sercan Kucuksahin captured the beautiful scenes unfolding in the dawn sky on July 22, 2024.
With the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games only days away, the golden full moon took the number 1 position in the skies above Paris on July 21, 2024.
This stunning image of the full moon shining next to the Eiffel Tower adorned with Olympic rings was captured by photographer Wang Zhao.
Lisa Shislowski sent us this lovely image of the full moon shining bright over the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
"As the boats went by, with the full Buck Moon, it was a sight to enjoy," Shislowski told Space.com in an email.
A blood red full Buck Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
This dramatic photograph was captured by photographer Gary Hershorn on July 21, 2024.
Below, a striking full moon rising behind the Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey.
The image was captured by photographer Kemal Aslan on July 21, 2024.
Another stunning entry from Turkey shows the Buck Moon setting in the early hours at Anitkabir, a mausoleum complex in the Çankaya district of Ankara. The mausoleum serves as the resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of the Turkish Republic.
Photographer Muhammed Abdullah Kurtar captured the dramatic scene on July 21, 2024.
Photographer Allen Berman sent us this dazzling image of the Buck Moon rising over Santa Monica, California, U.S. The image was captured from Pacific Palisades, almost 4 miles across the bay.
"I thought the juxtaposition of the moon and the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel could be interesting," Berman told Space.com in an email.
"The initial plan was to see the moon just above the white building in the background. But, I had to wait almost 10 minutes for the moon to emerge from behind a cloud …all the while running along the Pacific Coast Highway to keep the moon above the Ferris wheel. Still turned out kinda nice I think," Berman continued.
We agree! The image turned out very nice indeed.
In Greece, the Full Buck Moon rises behind the ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion in stunning fashion.
Photographer Nicolas Economou captured this stunning scene on July 20, 2024.
In Spain, the full moon of July put on quite the display as it rose behind Seville's Cathedral. The blood red moon is partially hidden by the Algamitas mountain.
The scene was captured by photographer Joaquin Corchero on July 21, 2024.
In Italy, the full moon painted a delightful scene in the sky as it rose behind clouds above the Rocca Calascio Castle.
The image was captured by photographer Lorenzo Di Cola on July 20, 2024.
If you're in search of a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides to the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals can assist you. Additionally, our recommendations for the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography will help you get ready to capture your next skywatching event.
The next full moon will occur on Monday, Aug. 19 at 2:26 p.m. EDT (1826 GMT.) August's full moon will make for an interesting skywatching and photography target as it will be the first supermoon of the year.
