04-08-2025
See A ‘Sturgeon Moon' Rise With Naked Eyes: The Night Sky This Week
Each Monday, I pick out North America's celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: August 4-10, 2025
August is one of the best months of the year for stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere, with warm evenings, lengthening nights and the appearance of the Milky Way right after dark. The latter will take a back seat this week because of a full moon — the sturgeon moon — rising into summer skies at dusk and shining much of the night. Here's everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Friday, August 8: See The 'Sturgeon Moon' Rising
Tonight's nearly full moon rises in the east at dusk, shining an orange, then yellow hue as it climbs into the evening sky. Named the sturgeon moon, this full phase offers a beautiful sight just after sunset. It's the perfect opportunity to get somewhere with a low view of the horizon and enjoy a magical moonrise moment.
Saturday, August 9: A Second 'Sturgeon Moon' Rising
Although it was best seen last night, there's another chance tonight. The moon actually turns full at 3:56 a.m. EDT, and will rise shortly after sunset, giving stargazers another chance to see it glowing orange on the eastern horizon.
Star of The Week: Arcturus
Arcturus, in the constellation Boötes, is one of the most famous stars of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. You'll find it shining in the west and easy to find using the handle of the Big Dipper thanks to the well-known star-hop 'arc to Arcturus.' A red giant star, Arcturus, is just 37 light-years from the solar system and the fourth brightest star in the night sky.
Constellation Of The Week: Lyra
Although the moon is up this week, some of the brighter stars and constellations will remain easy pickings. One is Lyra, a small but striking constellation centered on bright star Vega — the top-left star in the vast Summer Triangle asterism found above southeast after dark this month. Look for a small parallelogram of stars near Vega. It also contains the famous Ring Nebula (M57), visible in small telescopes.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
