Supermoon alert: The biggest full moon of 2022 rises tonight

Tonight's Buck Moon is the largest super moon of the year.

Chris Vaughan is an amateur astronomer with SkySafari Software who oversees Space.com's Night Sky calendar.

The Buck Moon will reach its full phase at 2:38 pm. It will be visible between the two constellations.

There are planets in the July night sky.

If you want to know the exact time of the event in your location, you'll want to use a skywatching app or software. We have picked the best stargazing apps.

There is a full moon when the moon and sun are not in alignment. The lack of shadows can make it difficult to see features on the lunar surface.

When the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth, it's called a supermoon. According to the Farmer's Almanac and Fred Espanak, there will be four supermoons in the summer of 2022. Espanak defines a super moon as a full moon within 10% of its closest approach to Earth.

July's full moon is an important event in many different cultures around the world. The cultural significance of July's full moon can be seen in these examples.

• Europeans sometimes call this the Hay Moon due to the haymaking season that falls between June and July. 
• Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains may call July's moon the Guru Full Moon (Guru Purnima), "celebrated as a time for clearing the mind and honoring the guru or spiritual master," NASA said.  
• Theravada Buddhists may call July's moon the Asalha Puha (also known as Dharma Day or Esala Poya — a festival celebrating Buddha's first sermon, NASA said). July's moon also marks the beginning of a three-month annual Buddhist retreat called Vassa.  
• July's full moon falls in the middle of the sixth month of the Chinese calendar, Tammuz in the Hebrew calendar and Dhu al-Hijjah — the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.  

Our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals right now can help if you're looking for a telescope or binoculars. If you want to capture the next skywatching sight on your own, you'll need the best cameras andlenses.

The next full moon will be on August 11. The last one of the year will be a super moon.

Would you like to take a more in-depth tour of our rocky companion? Whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape, our guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture. You can see where astronauts, rovers and landers have gone with our guide.

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