The moon's near and far sides exhibit striking asymmetry—from topography and crustal thickness to volcanic activity—yet the origins of these differences have long puzzled scientists.

The next full Moon is rising tonight. July 2025's Buck Moon will appear unusually large and low in the sky, creating a dramatic visual known as the 'Moon illusion'. The Buck Moon – the name for July's full Moon – gets its name from the time of year when male deer, called bucks, begin to grow their new antlers.

Some plants can photosynthesise using nightglow, traditionally comprising moonlight, starlight and the light reflected from planets. Increasingly, artificial light at night, known as light pollution, contributes to this background illumination.

Predicting the precise path of a new asteroid or comet is a complex affair; the more observations you have, the better you know where an object will be, years hence.

As Imhof noted, “Low Earth orbit, where the International Space Station sits, is orbiting 450 kilometres above us. The Moon is 1,000 times farther. It may seem easy to imagine travelling there because of the Apollo missions. But, honestly, we have to start from scratch.”

The full moon affects all signs. Expect emotional waves, heaviness, and challenges - but also purpose, responsibility, and focus. Stay patient and approach things with calm and restraint.

Skywatchers may have a harder time spotting July's full moon in Iowa. The evening of Wednesday, July 9, is expected to have 50-80% cloud cover across the state with some thunderstorms possible starting in western Iowa around 10 p.m. and moving across the state through the night, according to the National Weather Service.