From this week’s Full Buck Moon to the Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower, night skies will be dazzling this July. Keep looking skyward so you don’t miss some of the best astronomical phenomena coming this month, as listed below.
Lunar events
Full Buck Moon
This week, July’s full moon will dominate the sky for several days. As one of the year’s lowest-hanging full moons, it’s said to look bigger and brighter than usual.
🗓️ Date: Full moon peaks on July 10, 2025
New Moon
The new moon means the darkest skies of the month, ideal for stargazing and seeking out July’s celestial sights.
🗓️ Date: New moon peaks on July 24, 2025
Meteor showers
Delta Aquariids
The Delta Aquariids meteor shower coincides with the month’s darkest skies, meaning visibility will be better to potentially catch 10 meteors per hour.
🗓️ Date: July 18-Aug 21, 2025, with peak around July 29
Gamma Draconids & Piscis Austrinids
These two smaller meteor showers may also produce a handful of meteors per hour, coinciding with the Delta Aquariids.
🗓️ Date: July 28, 2025
Stargazing in the Bay Area
Luckily for us, the Bay Area has multiple fantastic observatories that can help us connect with the cosmos. Look out for Space Week from July 30-August 3 at Oakland’s Chabot Space & Science Center, as well as Evening With the Stars events on July 11th and 25th at Mount Hamilton’s Lick Observatory. Other dark sky spots include Henry W. Coe State Park in the South Bay, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Point Reyes National Seashore. Be sure to check each park’s hours before visiting.
If you’re planning to do some stargazing locally, look for a spot with minimal light pollution for the best experience. Choose a cozy location with a clear, unobstructed view of the sky, and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust—ideally during the early morning hours. To help your night vision, avoid looking at your phone or any bright white lights. You won’t need any special equipment like binoculars or a telescope, since the meteors are visible without them. Consider using a light pollution map to find more potential viewing locations.