August's Sturgeon Moon to Illuminate Night Sky Amid Meteor Showers

The Sturgeon Moon will reach its fullest illumination at 3:55 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 9, 2025. This full moon, traditionally named the Sturgeon Moon due to the abundance of sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes during this period, will be visible from Friday night into the early hours of Saturday.

Kelsey Young, lead for the lunar science objectives of NASA's Artemis II mission, noted that the full moon is appreciable even in urban areas with significant city lights. For optimal viewing, she recommends observing the moon away from city glow. Young added that the moon will appear full for a few days, allowing for reasonable viewing times outside of peak illumination.

The full moon coincides with three meteor showers: the Southern Delta Aquariids, the Alpha Capricornids, and the Perseids. The Aquariid and Capricornid showers peaked last week, while the Perseid shower is expected to peak next week. However, the brightness of the full moon may obscure visibility of these meteor showers.

In addition to the moon and meteor showers, Venus and Jupiter will be observable in the early morning hours throughout August. The planets will appear close together in the sky on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, creating a bright celestial meetup. During the second half of the month, Mercury will be visible 20 to 30 degrees below Venus on the horizon in the early mornings, and Mars can be seen to the west right after sunset.

Looking ahead, four more full moons are expected this year, with supermoons occurring in October, November, and December. The next full moon, known as the Corn Moon, is scheduled for September 7.