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August full moon on August 8-9 is the Sturgeon Moon

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August 8, 2025

Take a minute to let EarthSky’s Marcy Curran tell you about the full Sturgeon Moon. The August full moon falls overnight on August 8-9, 2025, for those of us in the Americas … just in time to spoil the Perseid meteor shower. Argh!

The crest of the August full moon falls at 7:55 UTC (2:55 a.m. CDT) on August 9. For those of us in the Americas, that means this August 2025 full moon falls overnight on August 8-9 (evening of the 8th, morning of the 9th).
A full moon is opposite the sun. So, like all full moons, this one will be ascending in the east in the evening hours on August 8. It’ll be highest in the sky at midnight. And it’ll be setting in the west at sunrise on August 9. For the Americas, the fullest moon hangs above the western horizon in the early morning hours of August 9.

A disk, the august full moon, lies above a wavy line, the horizon. — The August full moon will occur at 7:55 UTC on August 9. That is 2:55 a.m. on August 9 in the central United States. It’s called the *Sturgeon Moon*. The full moon will rise in the east at sunset on August 8. Chart via EarthSky.

It’s called the Sturgeon Moon

All the full moons have names. Popular ones for the August full moon include the Flying Up Moon, Corn Moon, and Sturgeon Moon. The name Sturgeon Moon recognizes the August peak of catching sturgeon fish in the waters of the Great Lakes.

August full moon in front of Capricornus in 2025

The August full moon can lie in front of one of two constellations of the zodiac. Most often it lies in front of Capricornus the Sea-goat, but at times it will be in front of Aquarius the Water Carrier. As seen from the Americas, the full moon on the night of August 8, 2025, will be located in the direction of central Capricornus. Because of the bright moonlight interfering, the stars in the vicinity of the moon will be very difficult to spot with the unaided eye.

Diagram of Earth and moon. The sun's light projects the full moon into the constellation Capricornus. — The 2025 August full moon will fall in the early morning on August 9 (at 2:55 a.m. CDT) and will lie in the constellation Capricornus the Sea-goat. Chart via EarthSky.

About full moons

All full moons rise along the eastern horizon near sunset, and set along the western horizon near sunrise, wherever you are on Earth’s globe. They are visible all night. At full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned in space, with Earth in the middle. The moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us. That’s why the moon appears full.

Note that the moon rises about an hour later each passing day because it moves eastward in its orbit. And note that the moon looks full and round the day before and the day after the crest of its full phase. For this month, those two dates occur on the nights of August 7 and 9.

This particular full moon is neither a supermoon nor a micro moon. But is slightly closer than an average moon. Hence, its size and brightness are a little bit greater than average.

Diagram with the sun, Earth, and moon lined up so that the moon's lit side faces Earth. — At full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned with Earth in the middle. The moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us. Chart via EarthSky.

Bottom line: The August full moon is the Sturgeon Moon. It takes place overnight on August 8-9, 2025. Then it will lie in front of the constellation Capricornus.

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August 8, 2025

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John Jardine Goss

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About the Author:

“I can sometimes see the moon in the daytime” was a cosmic revelation that John Jardine Goss first discovered through personal observations at age 6. It shook his young concept of the universe and launched his interest in astronomy and stargazing, a fascination he still holds today. John is past president of the Astronomical League, the largest U.S. federation of astronomical societies, with over 24,000 members. He's earned the title of Master Observer and is a regular contributor to the video series, “Global Star Party.” He has authored the celestial observing guides “Exploring the Starry Realm,” and “Carpe Lunam,” and “Take Your First Steps, an Introduction to Amateur Astronomy.” John also wrote for twenty years the monthly stargazing column, Roanoke Skies, for the Roanoke Times, and currently writes a bimonthly column, Skywatch, for Blue Ridge Country magazine. He has contributed to Sky and Telescope magazine, the IDA Nightscape, the Astronomical League’s Reflector magazine, and the RASC Observer’s Handbook.

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The EarthSky team has a blast bringing you daily updates on your cosmos and world. We love your photos and welcome your news tips. Earth, Space, Sun, Human, Tonight. Since 1994.