Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Gemma Jones

Buck Supermoon: When is it, how to see it and what is the moon illusion

Stargazers are in for a treat tonight as the Buck Supermoon is expected to light up the night skies.

The full moon in July is also known as the Buck Moon because male deer shed and regrow their antlers around this time of year. It’s the first full Moon of astronomical summer and the second supermoon of the year.

A supermoon is the result of a full moon occurring when it is near its closest point to the Earth in its orbit. This can happen because the moon orbits the Earth on an elliptical path, rather than a circular one.

READ MORE: BBC Weather shares exact date Liverpool could reach 32C

But when is the supermoon and how can you see it? We answer these questions and more below.

When can I see the Buck Moon 2022?

The Buck Moon will be visible tonight, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, in the UK and around the world. It will also appear brightly in the night sky tomorrow, on Thursday, July 14.

Anna Ross, a planetarium astronomer at Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “The best time to view this supermoon will be any time during the night of the 13th July, when the moon will rise in the east just after sunset, and set in the west a little before sunrise."

Where is the best place to see the Buck Moon from?

The supermoon can be seen from anywhere in the UK, but the less polluted your area is the better. Anna said: “There is no particular location you need to be to observe this event as this is a bright full moon. As long as the night is clear of clouds it will be easy to spot whether you are in a light-polluted city or a dark area of countryside.”

What is the best time to see the Buck Moon?

The Buck Moon this year will reach peak illumination at 6.38pm, in the early evening of Wednesday June 13. As this is still during daylight hours, and before the Moon has risen from our point of view in the UK, the best time to see the Buck Moon will be in the evening of June 13. just after moonrise at 9.47pm, while the Moon is still low on the horizon.

What is the Moon illusion?

The Moon illusion is when the Moon appears bigger during moonrise and moonset, when it’s still low on the horizon. Unfortunately, it’s only our human eyes playing tricks, but it’s great if you want to catch a few snaps of the Moon. Scientists are still unsure as to why this occurs, but it’s possible that our brain compares the Moon with distant objects on the horizon (such as buildings or wind turbines), which fools us into thinking it’s much larger.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here

READ NEXT:

Liverpool weather: Extreme heat warning issued

Warning over trick used by passengers to avoid passport delays

Coleen Nolan and Shane Ritchie's son Shane Jr marries fiancée in stunning ceremony

Mum and dad fined after 'top of the year' pupil misses school

The jaw dropping cost of Gemma Owen's necklace she never removes

Covid rules as thousands told not to take tests even if they have symptoms

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.