“Moon of the Deer”: Biggest Supermoon of the Year Happens This Wednesday

The July Full Moon, known as the “Deer Moon”, can light up the sky this Wednesday (13) in a particularly intense way.

The Deer Moon will appear full between Tuesday morning (12) and early Friday (15), according to NASA. It will reach its peak on Wednesday at 3:48 pm ET, but will not be fully visible until dusk.

For those interested in observing, it may appear larger and brighter than the rest of 2022’s moons, because it is categorized as a “supermoon”.

There is no single definition of a “supermoon”, but the term typically refers to a full moon that stands out more than the others as it is 90% of its closest orbit to Earth.

The Deer Moon is the closest supermoon to Earth this year, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

“Unlike some astronomical events, there is not (a situation where) you have to look at a certain instant or else you will miss it,” said Noah Petro, head of NASA’s Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory. “There isn’t a time when we should be looking to increase the full moon’s use. If the sky is overcast and you don’t want to leave the house, go on one of the other nights.”

To get the best views of the Moon, Petro recommended avoiding areas surrounded by tall buildings and dense woods. THE Old Farmer’s Almanac calculator can help you find what time the moon rises and sets at your current location.

This full moon is popularly known as the deer moon, as the deer’s antlers finish growing in July, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Deer antlers peel off and grow back every year, becoming larger as the animal ages.

The July full moon is also known by other names.

The Tlingit people, native to North America and found in the border regions between Alaska and Canada, refer to it as the “Salmon Moon” as the fish return to the Pacific Northwest at this time and are ready to fish.

For the Western Abenaki, another people native to North America, it is the Thunder Moon, in reference to the lightning storms that are frequent at this time of year.

In Europe, the June moon is often called the “Hay Moon” because of the hay season in June and July, according to NASA.

The July full moon corresponds to the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain festival Guru Purnima, a celebration to clear the mind and honor spiritual and academic gurus.

For Petro and other space enthusiasts, the moon is called the “Moon of Apollo 11”. Apollo 11 was the first mission to place humans on the surface of the Moon, having launched on July 16, 1969, and landed on July 20, 1969.

There will be five more full moons in 2022, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:

• August 11th: sturgeon moon
• September 10th: harvest moon
• October 9: hunters moon
• November 8th: beaver moon
• December 7th: cold moon

These are the names popularly associated with monthly full moons, but the meaning of each can vary among the different tribes of Native American peoples.

There will be one more total lunar eclipse and one more partial solar eclipse in 2022, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Partial solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but blocks only part of its light. It is recommended to wear specific glasses to safely view solar eclipses, as sunlight can be dangerous for the eyes.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Northeast Africa, the Middle East, West Asia, India and West China on October 25th.

A total lunar eclipse will also be visible to those in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America on November 8th.

Some meteor showers are still expected to occur in 2022:

• Southern Delta Aquarids: 29th and 30th of July
• Alpha Capricornids: 30th and 31st of July
• Perseids: August 11th and 12th
• Orionids: October 20th and 21st
• Southern Taurids: November 4th and 5th
• Northern Taurids: November 11th and 12th
• Leonidas: November 17th and 18th
• Geminids: December 13th and 14th
• Ursids: December 21st and 22nd

It can be difficult to see rain in urban areas because of the artificial lights that brighten the sky.

To get the best view, you need to find an area with a wide view of the skies. It is recommended to have a chair or sheet to facilitate looking straight up. Staying between 20 and 30 minutes without looking at your cell phone or other electronics can help your eyes get used to the darkness, and make it easier to see meteors.