Buck Moon 2022: Biggest Supermoon Of The Year On July 13-14. Know All About It

The Full Moon that occurs in the month of July is called Buck Moon. On July 14, at 12:08 am IST, the Moon will officially turn full. The July Buck Supermoon will be the brightest Full Moon of the year

A supermoon is a Full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at the perigee, the point closest to Earth in its orbit. The Full Moon that occurs in the month of July is called Buck Moon. This year, the July Buck Supermoon will be biggest and the brightest supermoon of the year.

Source : NASA

Supermoon 2022: On July 13-14, everyone on Earth will witness a Full Moon which is also a supermoon. This will be the biggest supermoon of the year. 

At 5 am EDT on July 13 (2:30 pm IST), the Moon will be near its closest approach to Earth. Since the Moon will be near its closest approach to Earth, it will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. 

Nine hours and 38 minutes after arriving at its closest point to Earth for 2022, the Moon will officially turn full. This will also be the brightest Full Moon of the year. 

At 2:38 pm UTC on July 13 (12:08 am IST on July 14), the Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun. 

A supermoon is a Full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at the perigee, the point closest to Earth in its orbit. Therefore, a supermoon appears slightly brighter and larger than a normal Full Moon. 

Different Names For The July Supermoon

The Full Moon that occurs in the month of July is called Buck Moon. It has been named after the new antlers that emerge from a buck's forehead around this time of the year. Early native American tribes called this Full Moon the Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of the year.

The Buck Moon is also known as Thunder Moon, Salmon Moon, Raspberry Moon because of the frequent thunderstorms in the summer, according to timeandate.com.

The Full Moon was known as the Claiming Moon, Wyrt Moon, Herb Moon, and Mead Moon in Celtic, which refers to the languages and cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany. The names indicate that July is the time to gather herbs or wyrts to dry and use as spices and remedies.

Since the hay harvest is made in July, the Anglo-Saxons called the Full Moon occurring around this time of the year the Hay Moon. 

How To Watch The July Buck Supermoon Online?

The supermoon to occur in July is the third of the four supermoons for 2022.

People worldwide can watch the July Buck Supermoon online. The astronomical phenomenon will be broadcast from Rome.

The Virtual Telescope Project will start broadcasting the July Buck Supermoon at 4 pm EDT on July 13 (1:30 am IST on July 14). One can watch the livestream at the project's website.

Gianluca Masi, an Italian astrophysicist who founded the Virtual Telescope Project, said in a statement that on July 13, the sky will show the world the closest Full Moon of the year. He said that it will be the third, but largest Supermoon of 2022. 

Astronomy enthusiasts can also view the July Buck Supermoon using binoculars or a telescope. 

Origin Of The Word 'Supermoon'

In 1979, American astrologer Richard Nolle used the term 'supermoon' to describe both a new and a Full Moon occurring at or near perigee. Later on, the word supermoon was used to denote only a Full Moon at perigee. 

Nolle first used the term supermoon in a 1979 edition of Dell Horoscope, a now-defunct periodic American magazine covering modern astrology. 

According to an article published by Space.com, supermoons appear 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than Full Moons near the farthest distance from Earth, or apogee. The Full Moons occurring at apogee are referred to as micromoons or minimoons. 

A supermoon is around seven per cent larger and 15 per cent brighter than a standard Full Moon. 

The near coincidence of July's Full Moon with perigee will result in a dramatically large range of high and low ocean tides. Moreover, coastal storms at sea around this time are likely to aggravate flooding problems.

What Is The Moon Illusion?

The phenomenon of the Moon appearing bigger during moonrise and moonset when it is still low on the horizon, is known as Moon illusion. Scientists believe that the Moon appears bigger during moonrise and moonset because of the human eyes playing tricks.

Some scientists believe that it is possible the brain compares the Moon with distant objects on the horizon, including buildings, which tricks the mind into thinking that the Moon is much larger.

More About Full Moons And New Moons

Full Moons occur every 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and three seconds. The interval between two Full Moons is calculated based on the time required by the Moon to orbit Earth and complete one lunar phase cycle, which is measured from one New Moon to the next. 

As many as 12 Full Moons occur in a calendar year. When the Earth is located directly between the Sun and the Moon, a Full Moon occurs. The Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun.

Sometimes, we can get two Full Moons in a single month. This happens because sometimes, the Moon may take less than a month to complete a lunar cycle. 

This causes 13 Full Moons to occur. The extra Full Moon is referred to as the 'Blue Moon'. 

The first supermoon of 2022 took place on January 2. It was a Super New Moon. The next Super New Moon of the year will occur in December.

The Super Full Moon which occurred on June 14 was called the Super Strawberry Moon. It was the second supermoon of the year.