Buck moon rising Friday will appear bright orange in parts of the US due to smoky skies from wildfires in the West
- The Buck Moon will rise Friday, July 23 and reach its peak at 10:37pm ET
- The name is in reference to the time of year when antlers of male deer are in full-growth
- The full moon may also appear to glow orange, due to the smoky skies in the US
- The smoke comes from wildfires burning in the West, which traveled as far as New York City this week
The Buck Moon will rise in the night sky Friday, July 23, but this year’s full moon may appear orange due to smoky skies across the US from wildfires ranging in the west.
The moon will look full tonight, but reach its peak Friday at 10:37pm ET in the southeast sky and stay visible until the early morning hours of Saturday.
The name, Buck Moon, is in reference to the time of year when antlers of male deer are in full-growth, but this moon has also been called Feather Molting Moon and Salmon Moon – a term indication when fish return to the area for harvesting.
The full moon this year, however, will glow with a tint that is caused by the lingering air pollution from about 120 fires burning on the west coast, including Oregon’s Bootleg Fire that have sent smoke all the way to New York City.
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The Buck Moon will rise in the night sky Friday, July 23 and reach its peak at at 10:37pm ET. Pictured is the Buck Moon on July 5, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri
This is the second full moon of the summer and is sometimes called the Thunder Moon because much of North America is set to experience heat lighting due to warmer temperatures.
In Europe, this moon has traditionally been referred to as a ‘Hay moon’ — in a nod to the haymaking of June and July — and occasionally as a ‘Mead’ or ‘Rose’ moon, although such names are also known to be given to the previous full moon as well.
For adherents of Hinduism, it is known as the ‘Guru full moon’, and coincides with the tradition of Guru Purnima — a time in which one both clears the mind and honors gurus and spiritual masters.
In Theravada Buddhism, the Buck Moon signifies the arrival of ‘Dharma Day’ — or Asalha Puja — an important festival that celebrates Buddha’s first sermon following his enlightenment.

The full moon this year, however, will glow with a tint that is caused by the lingering air pollution from about 120 fires burning on the west coast, including Oregon’s Bootleg Fire that sent smoke all the way to New York City (pictured)

The fires are still raging in California and Oregon, which has sent tons of smoke across the US and as far as New York City
The moon will begin its journey into the sky around 8:30pm ET on Friday and then appear again on Saturday at 9:17pm ET, according to NASA.
The orange color that is set to shine will likely appear the brightest at 9:37pm ET Friday.
The fires are still raging in California and Oregon, which has sent enormous amounts of smoke across the US and as far as New York City.
The smoke primarily comes from the Bootleg Fire, the largest of more than 80 fires out west that has scorched more than 476 square miles.
On Tuesday morning, air quality alerts were issued for New York City and the National Weather Service urged sensitive groups to remain indoors.
On Wednesday, the air quality index rose to 157, triggering a warning by health officials.
Once the index reaches a threshold of 100, it can cause health problems for people with breathing issues and pregnant women.
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