Moongazers, get ready for Augustâs full moon. The moon will shine bright when the sun sets on Friday evening, Aug. 8. However, if you stay up, plan on the peak time being in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 9, according to Time and Date.
Augustâs full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, getting its name from the freshwater fish that was once abundant in the Great Lakes in North America around this time of year. It also goes by other names, such as Corn Moon or Harvest Moon.
Hereâs when and how to get the best view of this yearâs Sturgeon Moon.
A full moon called âBlue Moonâ rises behind the Sacramento Mountains as seen from White Sands National Park in New Mexico on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
When is the full moon in August 2025?
The Sturgeon Moon will peak, or reach its highest point and illumination, on Saturday, Aug. 9. Times vary by location:
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Mountain time â 1:54 a.m.
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Central time â 2:54 a.m.
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Eastern time â 3:54 a.m.
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Pacific time â 12:54 a.m.
Why is it called the sturgeon moon? Other names include corn moon
The Sturgeon Moonâs name comes from a freshwater fish that was once abundant in the Great Lakes in North America around this time of year, according to Time and Date. Sturgeon can measure over 6 feet long and weigh around 200 pounds.
The fish dates back to 136 million years ago, according to the Old Farmerâs Almanac. Native Americans living near the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain once caught the fish during late summer and it became a regular part of their diets. Today, there are about 29 species of sturgeon.
Other names for the Sturgeon Moon include the Corn Moon (Algonquin and Ojibwe people), the Harvest Moon (Dakota people), and the Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest), the Old Farmerâs Almanac said.
The almanac added that more names and meanings for the Sturgeon Moon include:
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Flying Up Moon â A Cree term alluding to young birds learning to fly.
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Ricing Moon â An Anishinaabe name for the moon that signifies itâs time to gather maturing crops.
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Black Cherries Moon â A term the Assiniboine people gave this period, referring to chokecherries becoming ripe.
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MarĂa CortĂ©s GonzĂĄlez may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok. USAToday contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Whenâs the next full moon? How to see âsturgeon moonâ in Texas
