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 the full moon that greets us today is called the Buck Moon in recognition of the rapidly-growing, velvet-covered, antlers of the whitetail deer.  Look for it to rise after sunset in the southeast horizon.

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 14% larger and 30% brighter than normal.  This will be the first of four super moons of 2023. 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.

Super moons are a consequence of the moon being closer to Earth coincidentally with the full moon.  This month's moon will be just 224,895 miles (361,934 kilometers) from Earth in comparison to the average distance of roughly 238,000 miles (382,900 Kilometers). 

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.

Edit to add from 11 PM there was this.....