What To See In The July Night Sky

The names associated with our full moons are frequently derived from the names given by the indigenous peoples that inhabited North America.  The tribes used a calendar to track the seasons by means of the names given to the return of a full moon.    

In the northern hemisphere July is the stormiest month of the year and for that reason the full moon that greets us today is called the Thunder Moon.  Look for it to rise after sunset in the southeast horizon.

Bonus

This is a super moon.  This is a phenomenon in which the moon is closest to the earth in its elliptical orbit.  The July full moon will appear 15% larger and 30% brighter than normal.  This will be the brightest super moon of 2022. This also brings us to the word of the day.  Astronomers call this Lunar Perigee.  Commit this to memory.  One of these days there will be a test.

This moon is also called the Buck Moon in recognition of the rapidly-growing, velvet-covered, antlers of the whitetail deer. 

With the arrival of European settlers two additional monikers come to mind:  the Meade Moon which coincides the harvest of honey used to ferment this drink and the Hay Moon as the first cuttings of cattle fodder occur.  

Fingers-crossed for clear night skies and no skeeters.....

Photo NASA