July may not deliver the rare seven-planet “parade” that headlined February, but the month is packed with quieter spectacles that reward anyone willing to step outside at dusk or dawn. Mercury reaches its best evening placement of the entire year, Earth swings to its farthest point from the Sun, the annual Buck Moon lights up the sky, and the season’s first reliable meteor showers begin to spark.
Below you’ll find everything worth watching, plus practical tips to make each event easier to catch.
Mercury’s Best Evening Show of the Year (July 4)
Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, placing it at its highest and brightest point in the evening sky. Catch it just after sunset, low on the western horizon. It fades quickly after this date, so early July is your best shot.
Earth at Aphelion (July 3)
Our planet reaches its farthest point from the Sun at 94.5 million miles. While it’s not a visual spectacle, it’s a fascinating orbital milestone that subtly impacts solar intensity and day length.
Buck Moon – The First Full Moon of Summer (July 10)
The Buck Moon rises large and luminous in the evening sky. It’s ideal for casual observers and photographers, though its brightness may hinder meteor spotting for a few nights.
What is a Buck Moon?
The Buck Moon is the traditional name for the full moon in July. The term comes from Native American and Colonial-era naming conventions, where each full moon of the year had a name tied to seasonal changes in nature.
Why is it called the Buck Moon?
In July, male deer (bucks) begin to grow new antlers after shedding the old ones in spring. The antlers start to sprout velvet-covered growths, making this month symbolically tied to renewal and strength in nature. Early observers, particularly in North America, named the full moon during this time the Buck Moon because it coincided with this natural phenomenon.
Other Names for the July Full Moon:
Depending on the region or tradition, the July full moon is also known by other names:
- Thunder Moon – due to frequent summer thunderstorms
- Hay Moon – marking the time for hay harvesting in Europe
- Salmon Moon – in some coastal Native traditions, tied to salmon runs
2025 Buck Moon Details:
- Date: July 10, 2025
- Best Viewing Time: Around moonrise that evening (just after sunset)
- Fun Fact: It may appear especially large near the horizon due to the moon illusion—a psychological effect that makes the rising moon look bigger than it actually is.
Whether you’re observing with a telescope or just your eyes, the Buck Moon is a striking midsummer lunar event that lights up the sky and connects us to the rhythms of nature.
Saturn Retrograde Begins (July 12)
Saturn shifts into retrograde motion, creating a subtle westward drift in the night sky. For telescope users, this is a perfect time to observe its rings, which are nearly edge-on in a rare perspective that won’t return for over a decade.
Mercury Retrograde Begins (July 17)
Mercury also begins retrograde motion, making it a fascinating object to track night after night as it dances backward across the evening sky. Apps or star charts make the movement easier to follow.
Southern Delta Aquariids & Alpha Capricornids Meteor Showers (Late July)
Two overlapping meteor showers kick off the summer meteor season. The Southern Delta Aquariids peak around July 29–30, delivering 15–20 meteors per hour under dark skies. The Alpha Capricornids add occasional bright fireballs to the mix.
Morning Planet Trio: Venus, Jupiter & Saturn (Late July)
In the final days of the month, early risers will be treated to a stunning trio of planets. Venus shines brilliantly in the east, with Jupiter low on the horizon and Saturn higher up to the south. It’s a great opportunity for wide-angle photos or skywatching before dawn.
These events make July 2025 an ideal month for stargazers of all experience levels. Whether you’re chasing planets, watching meteor streaks, or marveling at the full Moon, the skies will deliver something spectacular nearly every week.
Key Planetary Moments
| Date (2025) | Event | Why It Matters | How to See It |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 3 | Earth at Aphelion | Our planet is 94.5 million mi (152 million km) from the Sun—its greatest distance of the year. The Sun appears a touch smaller and solar radiation dips by about 7 percent (though you won’t feel a temperature change). | Just note the date; it’s a neat trivia fact while you’re outside hunting planets. |
| July 4 | Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation (26° from the Sun) | This is 2025’s prime window for evening Mercury—its highest, easiest apparition before it dives sunward later in the month. | 20–40 minutes after sunset, look low in the west-northwest; binoculars help if haze is present. |
| July 12–17 | Saturn (July 12) and Mercury (July 17) Station Retrograde | Telescopes reveal Saturn beginning to drift westward against Pisces’ stars; Mercury’s U-turn is harder to notice but fun to track via a planetarium app. | Sketch or photograph the planets’ positions every few nights to watch the subtle backward motion. |
| Late July Dawn | Venus–Jupiter–Saturn Morning Trio | By the final week of the month, brilliant Venus leads a diagonal line with Jupiter lower on the eastern horizon and Saturn higher in the south. | Head out 60–45 minutes before sunrise; the three planets form a gentle arc along the ecliptic. |
Note on Saturn’s rings: A dramatic ring-plane crossing back in March left Saturn’s rings nearly edge-on. They’re opening only a few degrees by July, so a telescope will show them as a skinny, golden sliver—an unusually delicate view that won’t happen again until the late 2030s.
Lunar Highlights
| Date | Lunar Event | Viewing Tips |
|---|---|---|
| July 10 – Buck Moon | The first full Moon of summer rises around sunset. Because it occurs shortly before midnight UTC, North American observers see the disk nearly 100 percent illuminated all night. | For striking photos, frame the Moon with foreground landmarks during moonrise or moonset. |
| July 16 – Moon, Saturn & Neptune Conjunction | In predawn hours the waning gibbous Moon glides less than 3° from Saturn; Neptune lurks two lunar-diameters away. | Naked-eye observers easily spot Saturn; a small telescope reveals Neptune’s bluish “star” nearby. |
| July 20 – Moon Occults the Pleiades (select regions) | A razor-thin crescent slips in front of the Pleiades cluster during early-morning twilight, visible across parts of North America and the Pacific. | Use binoculars to watch individual stars wink out along the Moon’s dark limb. |
Meteor Showers: Season Kick-Off
| Shower | Active Dates | Peak Night | Expected Rate & Moon Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 18 – Aug 12 | Jul 29–30 | 15–20 meteors/hr at 27 percent waning Moon—good conditions. |
| Alpha Capricornids | Jul 3 – Aug 15 | Jul 29–30 | Low (5/hr) but famous for slow, bright fireballs that stand out even in light haze. |
| Perseids (preview) | Jul 17 – Sep 1 | Peak Aug 12–13 | Ramp-up begins late July; rates hit 10-20/hr by month’s end, though an 84 percent Moon will interfere at peak. |
Best practice: For Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids, aim for the post-midnight window when the radiant (Aquarius and Capricornus respectively) climbs highest. Face south if you’re in mid-northern latitudes and give your eyes 20 minutes to dark-adapt.
Observing Checklist
- Low Western Horizon: Scout a clear vista for Mercury’s July 4 elongation—rooftops or hills blocking the horizon will cost you the planet.
- Dark-Sky Meteor Spot: Even moderate city light washes out half the Aquariids. If you can, drive 30 minutes away from urban glare.
- Telescope Collimation: A well-aligned scope pays off for Saturn’s skinny rings; even a 4-inch instrument will show the ball-and-ring silhouette.
- Moon Filters: For Buck Moon photography, a neutral-density or variable polarizing filter keeps the lunar surface from blowing out highlights.
- Planisphere or App: Track the retrograde loops—Mercury’s nightly drift is obvious on a star chart over two weeks; Saturn’s takes longer but is rewarding to trace.
Why July Matters
July marks the astronomical pivot between spring’s planet parade and August’s meteor-rich skies. With Earth at aphelion, daylight hours are still long, yet twilight temperatures are comfortable for late-night sessions. Add a photogenic full Moon, Saturn’s unusually thin rings, and Mercury’s best evening cameo of 2025, and you have a month that quietly rewards both beginners and seasoned observers alike. Clear skies!
