JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Get ready for a spectacular sight!
This year, the July full moon, referred to as either the ‘Buck Moon’ or the ‘Thunder Moon’ will rise Sunday at 6:17 a.m. Eastern time, also happens to be the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The ‘Buck Moon’ reference is due to male deer sprouting their antlers this time of year. The ‘Thunder Moon’ reference is easier to understand as summer storms in July produce numerous thunderstorms due to diurnal heat rising.
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This summer, the July lunar sensation has a much greater significance. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission was the first to land astronauts on the moon. This flight was monumental in moving the space program into the future.
The forecast for viewing the full moon on Sunday, July 21 at 6:00 a.m. in Jacksonville will be partly cloudy. The clouds may dim the brightness of the full moon, but they can’t diminish the beauty of the Earth’s only moon and the history she carries with her daily.
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