This full moon earned its name from the frequent thunderstorms that rumble across North America over the course of July.

Keep your eyes peeled and up towards the sky for the first full moon of the summer! Some refer to the July full moon as the ‘Thunder Moon’ due to the frequency of those pesky summertime thunderstorms that us, here in the Upstate and in the North Carolina mountains are all too familiar with.

It will shine through the night before setting near sunrise.It's also known as the Full Buck Moon, a term connected to the quick growth of antlers on male deer in the middle of the summer.Later in the month,

The Thunder Moon or Buck Moon, as it’s called, the first full moon of the astronomical summer, will occur Thursday. On July 10, the moon will rise in the southeastern sky and will be illuminated throughout the evening until it sets in the southwest.

This year, the Buck Moon follows Earth's aphelion, the point in its orbit farthest from the Sun, by just a few days, according to Space.com. That makes it the full moon farthest from the Sun in 2025, a result of orbital geometry rather than distance from Earth.

Even if thunder is booming outside, you’re at peace with those you care about and finding calm beyond the storm. Congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come. Your fearless persona helped you to navigate the darkest days and emerge a winner. Now, you should sit back and feel the love surrounding you – including the love you have for yourself.

The combination of high humidity water vapor and the unique summer clouds make the name fit right for the Thunder Moon. This full moon is also called the Buck Moon, which is also timely named. Male deer start growing horns around July here in Michigan according to Matt Bierlein, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities in Frankenmuth, MI.