Catch the Full Sturgeon Supermoon and The Blue Supermoon!
This year, August has two full moons—and, they are both supermoons! The full Sturgeon Moon reaches its peak on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, with the Blue Sturgeon Supermoon peaking on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Learn when to look for these two full moons this month and why August’s Full Moon got such a peculiar name.
When to See the Full Moons in August 2023
August’s first full Moon will appear on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 1, reaching peak illumination at 2:32 P.M. Eastern Time. That evening, look toward the southeast after sunset to catch a glimpse of the Sturgeon Supermoon rising.
Later in the month, a second full moon, a Blue Moon will make an appearance. A Blue Moon is when we have two full moons in a single month. On Wednesday, August 30, the Blue Sturgeon Supermoon will peak at 9:36 P.M. This supermoon will be the biggest we see all year!
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This month we will see TWO supermoons, which means that the second full Moon of the month is both a Blue Moon and the closest full Moon of the year! Supermoons are commonly defined as full Moons that occur while the Moon is at its nearest point to Earth. (Because its orbit is not a perfect circle, the Moon’s distance from Earth changes throughout the month.) Supermoons are ever-so-slightly closer to Earth than the average full Moon, which technically makes them extra large and bright from Earth’s perspective.
→ Read more about this year’s supermoons here!
→ Consult our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to see precisely when the Sturgeon Moon and the Blue Moon will be visible in your area!
Why Is It Called the Sturgeon Moon?
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.
The Sturgeon Moon
August’s full Moon was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer.
What Is a Sturgeon?
These prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago and many people call them “living fossils.”
- Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years!
- Today, there are about 29 species worldwide, including the lake sturgeon found in the Great Lakes. They have evolved in size from the size of a bass to monster sturgeon as big as a Volkswagen.
- The lake sturgeon is quite rare today, due to intense overfishing in the 19th century, pollution, and damage to their habitat.
Alternative August Moon Names
Flying Up Moon is a Cree term describing the time when young birds are finally ready to take the leap and learn to fly.
Corn Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), and Ricing Moon (Anishinaabe) signify that this is the time to gather maturing crops. Along the same vein, the Assiniboine people named this period Black Cherries Moon, referring to when chokecherries become ripe.
The Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest traditionally called this time of the season the Mountain Shadows Moon.
→ See all Full Moon names and their meanings.
Moon Phases for August 2023
See Moon phase dates and times below. Note: All dates and times are ET. Go to the Moon Phase Calendar for your time zone.
Moon Phases for August 2023
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: August 1, 2:32 P.M. |
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: August 8, 6:28 A.M. |
.png) | New Moon: August 16, 5:38 A.M. |
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: August 24, 5:57 A.M. |
| Full Moon: August 30, 9:36 P.M. |
→ For your next full Moon, see our Full Moon Dates chart.
Full Sturgeon Moon Video
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the Full Moon along with some fascinating facts. In this video, learn about the Full Sturgeon Moon. Click below to watch the video.
Best Days in August 2023
Below are the best days for activities, according to the Moon’s sign and phase in August.
| Activity | Best Days |
| Cutting Hay | 5, 6 |
| Harvest Aboveground Crops | 26, 27 |
| Fishing | 1, 16–30 |
→ See Best Days for MORE activities.
Moon Folklore
- Clothes washed for the first time in the full Moon will not last long.
- If you glimpse the new Moon over your right shoulder, you will have good luck.
- To have a project prosper, start it during the new Moon.
- Babies born a day after the full Moon enjoy success and endurance.
Share your thoughts about this month’s moon below!
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I was blessed to witness few nights of full moon, and moon with a very bright star next to it I took some picture but not clear it was about 2,3am,breathtaking
I was blessed to witness few nights of full moon, and moon with a very bright star next to it I took some picture but not clear it was about 2,3am,breathtaking
Next year, 2023, we'll have two full moons in August. So, which will be called the Sturgeon Moon? 1st (UTC), or 31st (UTC), or both? If not both, what will be a name for the other one?
My idea is, 1st: Sturgeon / 31st: Blue, and this wil be applied to another month too (I mean, May 31st of 2026's moon also will be a Blue moon, not a Flower moon). Is this correct?
As this is not the first case definitely, there must be an answer already. But I cannot find it. Thank you for your help.
You are correct. The first full Moon typically goes by the most popular name (Sturgeon Moon, in the case of August). The second full Moon in any calendar month is known as a Blue Moon, but it may also go by one of the month’s other Moon names (such as Flying Up Moon or Black Cherries Moon for August).
Thank you! I understand very well.
I hope you see beautiful moons :D
Even though the full moon is slightly visible tonight (08-21-21) & then illuminates fully tomorrow morning , it is still ONE full moon. Therefore, I don’t agree with the idea that this current full moon is also a blue moon. The name Blue moon is given to the second full moon in a calendar month. This moon is unique, absolutely, but it doesn’t fit the title of a blue moon.
I agree 100% ....right...
You are correct that August’s full Moon does not fit that definition of a Blue Moon. However, there are actually two different types of Blue Moons! August’s is what we call a “seasonal” Blue Moon, which is defined as the third of four full Moons to occur within one season. Read more about it here!
Farmer's Almanac wrote; the Assiniboine (Indian) people named this period Black Cherries Moon, referring to when chokecherries become ripe; comment: Red Choke-cherries are not fully edible; whereas; Black-choke berries are; Black choke-berries; aka Aronia; prolific in NE; good for Bird-food~(the berries can be dried)~
Please tell me how to glimpse the new moon over your right shoulder when I've always been told the new moon is not visible in the sky.
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