Full moon August 2026: All you need to know

Full moon in August 2026

When it occurs: August’s full moon—traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon—will fall on Friday, August 28, 2026. It will reach peak illumination at 04:18 UTC (12:18 a.m. EDT).

When to see: Look for the bright full moon rising in the east around sunset on August 27, 2026. It will reach its highest point in the southern sky around midnight and set in the west around sunrise on August 28, 2026.

Here are the moonrise and sunset times for New York City and Los Angeles on August 27, 2026:

• New York City: Moonrise at 7:25 p.m. EDT, sunset at 7:36 p.m. EDT.
• Los Angeles: Moonrise at 7:17 p.m. PDT, sunset at 7:25 p.m. PDT.

Location: August’s full moon will appear in the zodiac constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer.

Lunar eclipse: August’s full moon will coincide with a deep partial lunar eclipse, during which 96% of the moon will enter Earth’s umbra, giving it a reddish-orange color. The eclipse will begin on August 28 at 01:23 UTC (9:23 p.m. EDT on August 27) and will be visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

Last full moon of summer: August’s full moon will be the last of three full moons of summer, before the autumnal equinox on September 23, 2026, which marks the beginning of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Why is August’s full moon called the Sturgeon Moon?

August’s full moon is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon because it marks the time of year when sturgeon fish were quite abundant and easiest to catch in the Great Lakes of North America.

Native American tribes who lived in the region used it as a calendar marker for harvesting the fish to ensure their survival through the winter.

Is August’s full moon a supermoon or a micromoon?

August’s full Sturgeon Moon will be neither a supermoon nor a micromoon.

Generally, a full moon qualifies as a supermoon if it occurs within 2.4 days of perigee, and as a micromoon if it occurs within 2.4 days of apogee. Since the full moon in August 2026 will occur about six days after lunar apogee, it will be neither a supermoon nor a micromoon.

Sturgeon Moon from 2026 to 2030

Here are the dates and times for the Sturgeon Moon from 2026 to 2030:

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