31-07-2025
Why August's full Sturgeon Moon will come with a 'celestial bonus' in 2025
Summer's last full moon is only a few weeks away and it's set to come with a "celestial bonus."
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the August full moon, or Sturgeon Moon, will dip below the horizon in the early morning hours, accompanied by a striking alignment of Saturn, Venus and Jupiter. If clouds interfere, skywatchers will have another chance when Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets, will appear closely paired in the sky.
Here's what else to know.
When is the August full moon in 2025?
August's Sturgeon Moon will peak on Saturday, August 9.
What time will the August full moon peak in Nashville?
August's full moon will reach peak illumination at 4:55 a.m. Central Time.
The Old Farmer's Almanac recommends looking up about an hour before sunrise, around 4:59 a.m. in Nashville, when the moon will still be glowing brightly in the early morning sky.
How to view the moon near Saturn, Venus and Jupiter
If you miss the full moon on Aug. 9, the night sky will offer another show from Aug. 11 to 13.
On Aug. 12, the 88% illuminated moon will appear near Saturn, according to Star Walk. That same night, Venus and Jupiter, two of the brightest planets, will shine closely together. Skywatchers will be able to observe the planets with the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
Why is August's full moon called the Sturgeon Moon?
The Old Farmer's Almanac draws its full moon names from a variety of sources, including Native American, Colonial American and European traditions.
Historically, these names referred not just to the full moon itself, but to the entire lunar month in which it appeared.
August's full moon is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon, named after the giant lake sturgeon, once abundant in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
These freshwater fish were a vital food source for Native American communities in the region and were most easily caught during this time of year. While once plentiful, lake sturgeon are now far less common.
Other August full moon names include:
Flying Up Moon (Cree): Marks the time when young birds are ready to take flight.
Corn Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), and Ricing Moon (Anishinaabe): Refer to the period of harvesting crops and wild rice.
Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine): Signals the ripening of chokecherries.
Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit): A name used by the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest to describe this time of year.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is the August full moon? Why it comes with a 'celestial bonus'
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