Dreamers and sky-gazers, don’t forget to look up this weekend! A stunning last “regular” full moon is set to take over L.A.’s night sky on July 21, 2024 — when the moon will reach its peak illumination. This stunning celestial event is known by several names:
- Buck Moon: Derived from the antlers of male deers (bucks) growing to their fullest around this time of year before being shed.
- Thunder Moon: A reference to the frequent thunderstorms of July.
- Hay Moon: Celebrating the traditional hay harvesting season.
No matter what you nickname it — this full moon will be the last “regular” full moon before a series of extraordinary lunar events. After this “regular” July full moon, we will experience a sequence of four consecutive supermoons, where the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky due to its closer proximity to Earth. The Sturgeon Moon in August will kick off a series of four consecutive supermoons:
- August 19, 2024 — Sturgeon Moon
- September 17, 2024 — Corn Moon
- October 17, 2024 — Hunter’s Moon
- November 15, 2024 — Beaver Moon
As for this weekends full moon, you won’t need any special equipment to enjoy — all you need to do is look for the moon rising shortly after sunset for the best experience. You can find your local moonrise time using the Time and Date calculator here.