As of Monday, July 7, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. From Earth, 89% of the moon will appear visible (according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation ).

At this time, the sun shines at such an angle to make it appear as if there is a gigantic 'V' and 'X' marking the barren lunar surface. This kind of phenomenon is referred to as a 'clair-obscur' effect and occurs when the interplay between light and shadow leads to the chance formation of familiar shapes on the moon 's craggy terrain.

This July full moon signals the time when male deer, or bucks, begin to grow their new antlers, covered in soft velvet.

Astronomy enthusiasts have another reason to look up this summer as July’s full moon — known as the “Buck Moon” — is set to illuminate the night sky. The full moon set to rise on July 10, 2025.

When the Sun hits the rims of the Blanchinus, La Caille, and Purbach craters at just the right angles during the Moon's cycle, it produces the lunar X and V. When it hits the Clavius crater, one of the Moon's largest and oldest, just right you can see the "Eyes of Clavius".