When is August's full moon? What to know about Aug. 9 sturgeon moon.
The full moon will be visible just before the popular Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak around Aug. 12 to 13.
The August 2025 full moon is coming to a sky near you.
August's sturgeon moon will reach peak illumination on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, at 3:55 a.m. EDT. The full moon should be visible as it rises in the sky on the evening of Friday, Aug. 8, weather permitting, of course.
It's known as the sturgeon moon thanks to the giant fish that were once plentiful this time of the year in the waters of the northeastern United States.
The full moon will be visible just before the popular Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak around Aug. 12 to 13.
Unfortunately for meteor viewers, the bright full moon could actually interfere with meteor shower viewing, astronomers said. According to a description of the meteor showers on Space.com, "this year's spectacle comes with one major caveat: moonlight. The 80% illuminated waning gibbous moon will rise a few hours before midnight on Aug. 12 and remain high above the southern horizon until dawn, washing out all but the brightest meteors."
Why is it called the Sturgeon moon?
Full moon names are traditionally rooted in Native American culture or have Colonial American influences, according to the Farmer's Almanac.
According to the almanac, the name sturgeon moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer and an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region.
"At one time, the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today," the Almanac said.
As for the fish themselves, these prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago, and many people call them “living fossils.”
What are some other names for August's full moon?
Alternative names for the August full moon refer to seasonal crops and more. Some of these names include:
- Flying Up Moon (Cree)
- Corn Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe)
- Harvest Moon (Dakota)
- Ricing Moon (Anishinaabe)
- Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine)
- Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit)
Is there a supermoon in August 2025?
No, there is no supermoon in August. The first supermoon of the year typically occurs in the later months, and this year it will be in October.