Full buck moon and three meteor showers to light up Metro Vancouver skies late July
The July 29 full moon peaks near the peak of two meteor showers, with the Perseids also active—clear summer skies could make for excellent viewing.
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Metro Vancouver skywatchers have a treat lined up for late July: a full buck moon will reach peak brightness on July 29 at 7:35 a.m., though it will appear nearly full the nights before and after.
Near the moon's peak, two meteor showers—the Alpha Capracornids and Southern Delta Aquarids—will reach their double peak overnight July 30 to July 31. A third shower, the Perseids, will also be active during this window. The Perseids are known as one of the year's most productive showers and often produce fireballs—exceptionally bright meteors.
The full moon's glare will dimmed some of the dimmer shooting stars, but the display should still be worthwhile. The long-range Metro Vancouver forecast suggests July will be warmer and drier than normal, raising the odds of clear skies—though haze from forest fires could obscure viewing in some areas.
The July full moon earned its "buck" name from the time of year when young male deer grow new antlers. Indigenous peoples tracked seasonal changes by giving each full moon a distinctive name: the Cherokee called it the "Ripe Corn Moon," the Ponca the "Middle of Summer Moon," and the Zuni the "Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit."
