July 12 full moon first of 3 full-moon supermoons in 2014

Image at top shows a micro-moon (smallest full moon) superimposed on supermoon (largest full moon). This image – an Astronomy Picture of the Day from earlier this year – is from Stefano Sciarpetti.

On July 12, 2014, we have the first full moon after the June 21 solstice. Around this time of year, in North America, buck deer start growing antlers, thunder storms rage and farmers struggle to pile up hay in their barns. Thus, according to folklore, we call this full moon the Buck Moon, Thunder Moon or Hay Moon. The July 2014 full moon is also the first of three full-moon supermoons in 2014. Previously, we had two supermoons in January – on January 1 and 30 – but they were new-moon supermoons. The full moons on July 12, August 10 and September 9 all enjoy the supermoon designation because the centers of these full moons and the center of Earth are less than 361,863 kilometers (224,851 miles) apart. The closest supermoon of the year comes with the August 10 full moon, with a moon that’s only 356,896 kilometers (221,765 miles) from Earth.

Because it’s a supermoon, and relatively close to Earth, expect higher-than-usual tides in the days ahead.

What is a supermoon?

When exactly is the July full moon?

The full moon mirrors sun’s path for six months hence

Despite the moon-drenched skies, you should be able to make out the planets Saturn and Mars, plus the star Spica, in the southwest sky on these July evenings.

When exactly is the July full moon? The full moon falls at the same instant all over the world: July 12 at 11:25 Universal Time.

Clock time for this full moon – and every full moon – varies by time zone. For London, the moon turns full at 12:25 p.m. BST in the afternoon on July 12, at which time the moon is below their horizon and shining on the nighttime side of the world. For the U.S. West Coast, the moon turns full on at 4:25 a.m. PDT on July 12, where the full moon sits low in the west just before sunrise.

Technically speaking, the moon turns full at the instant that the moon lies most opposite the sun for the month. Because the moon stays more or less opposite the sun throughout the night, watch for a full-looking moon in the east at dusk, highest in the sky around midnight and low in the west at dawn. On the nights around the night of full moon, the moon looks full for a few nights.

Day and night sides of Earth at instant of July full moon

Day and night sides of Earth at the instant of the July 2014 full moon (2014 July 12 at 11:25 Universal Time)

The full moon mirrors sun’s path for six months hence. Any full moon mirrors the sun’s path across the sky for six months hence. As seen from the Northern Hemisphere, tonight’s full moon will follow the low path of the winter sun; as viewed from southerly latitudes, the moon will follow the lofty path of the summer sun.

Bottom line: The full moon on July 12 ushers in the first of three full-moon supermoons in 2014.

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