The lowest 'Male Deer Moon' of the year will appear in the sky on the night of July 10

On the evening of July 10, astronomy lovers around the world will have the opportunity to admire the July full moon phenomenon "Male Deer Moon" at its lowest position in the sky.

The Stag Moon is the traditional name for the July full moon, which comes from the time when male deer in North America begin to grow new antlers. It is also known as the “Thunder Moon” because it coincides with the storm season in many parts of the United States.

Buck Moon photo taken in Greece. (Source: Getty Images)

Why is the July moon this year special?

According to the astronomy website Space.com, this year’s full moon in July will reach its maximum at 4:36 p.m. Eastern Time (3:36 a.m. July 11 Vietnam time). However, the ideal time to observe is right after moonrise, when it has just risen above the horizon at sunset.

What makes this year’s Rooster Moon special is that it appears just a few days after Earth reaches aphelion—its farthest point from the sun in its orbit. This makes it the furthest full moon from the sun in 2025. In addition, the “Major Lunar Standstill” phenomenon—which occurs every 18.6 years—causes the moon’s orbit to be tilted to its maximum relative to the celestial equator, causing the July full moon to sit very low in the sky after rising.

When the moon first rises, it can appear orange or red due to Rayleigh scattering – similar to the glow of a sunset. In addition, the moon may appear larger than usual when it is near the horizon. This is an optical illusion called the “Moon Illusion”, where the human brain is fooled by the position of the moon in relation to objects on the ground.

A full moon rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Greece. (Source: Getty Images)

Tips for taking pictures of the moon with your phone

To capture this impressive full moon moment with your phone, users can apply some simple tips. First of all, you should choose an open observation location with little light and can combine it with scenery such as trees, houses or mountains to create depth for the photo.

When taking photos, turn off the flash and use “Pro” or “Manual” mode if your phone supports it. Suggested settings include an ISO of 100–200, a shutter speed of 1/250 second or faster, and manual focus set to infinity. If pro mode is not available, you can tap the moon to focus and reduce the brightness by swiping down on the screen.

To avoid shaking when taking photos, use a tripod or prop your phone up, and turn on the 3-second timer. After taking the photo, you can edit it with apps like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile to increase sharpness and make light color adjustments.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/trang-huou-duc-thap-nhat-nam-se-xuat-hien-tren-bau-troi-dem-10-7-ar953285.html