The Full Buck Moon will gallop through the sky tonight.
This full moon will mark the primary of 4 straight supermoons that can rise over the following few months, starting with July’s Buck Moon tonight (July 3) and culminating with September’s Full Corn Moon on Sept. 28. While the total moon never disappoints as a skywatching favorite, it will possibly be tricky to see each full moon because of weather conditions or the timing of the moonrise.
Thankfully, astronomer Gianluca Masi and the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome, Italy will likely be livestreaming the Full Buck Moon within the night sky tonight for skywatchers unable to witness the primary supermoon of 2023 in person. The livestream begins at 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Monday (July 3). Watch it here courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project or on the project’s YouTube channel.
Related: July’s Full Buck Moon, the first of 4 straight supermoons, rises tonight
Read more: Full moon calendar 2023: When to see the following full moon
Supermoons occur when the moon is closer to Earth than average; since the moon’s orbit around our planet is elliptical, or oval-shaped, there are occasions when our natural satellite appears barely larger or smaller as its distance from us changes.
Nonetheless, even during a so-called supermoon, the moon appears only around 30% brighter and 14% larger than usual. For all but essentially the most dedicated and experienced moonwatchers, these differences will likely be difficult to discern with the unaided eye.
Nevertheless, supermoons are an ideal time to benefit from the splendor of the total moon, whether in person or through tonight’s livestream, Masi stated on The Virtual Telescope Project’s website. He also underscored why addressing the increasing threat of sunshine pollution is so vital.
“The supermoon offers us a fantastic opportunity to look up and discover the sky,” Masi wrote. “Showing the stunning beauty up there, feeding the need to enjoy it more and higher, [and understanding] why it’s disappearing from our cities, makes it possible to involve people and spontaneously promote responsible actions and behaviors in the usage of artificial light.”
If you happen to prefer to take a look at the Buck Moon or every other supermoons in person, our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars are a fantastic place to begin.
And in case you’re seeking to take your individual photos of the total moon and the night sky typically, try our guide on the right way to photograph the moon, in addition to our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.