Catch the Full Sturgeon Moon!
August’s full Sturgeon Moon reaches its peak on Sunday morning, August 22, 2021. So, be sure to look up both Saturday and Sunday nights! Learn why August’s Full Moon got such a peculiar name!
When to See the Full Moon in August 2021
August’s full Moon will first appear on the night of Saturday, August 21, before reaching peak illumination at 8:02 A.M. Eastern Time on Sunday, August 22. On either of these nights, look toward the southeast after sunset to catch a glimpse of the Sturgeon Moon rising.
August’s Blue Moon
This full Moon is also a Blue Moon! Specifically, it’s a seasonal Blue Moon, meaning that it’s the third of the four full Moons to occur within the season of summer. Typically, only three full Moons happen in a season, but when the dates of the full Moons and those of the equinoxes and solstices line up just right, a fourth full Moon can manage to fit into the season as well. The third full Moon in the series is then considered to be a Blue Moon.
You may have also heard of another definition of a Blue Moon: the second full Moon to occur within one calendar month. This definition tends to be more common. Read more about Blue Moons here!
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 2021
See Moon phase dates and times below. Note: All dates and times are ET. Go to the Moon Phase Calendar for your time zone.
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New Moon: August 8, 9:50 A.M. |
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First Quarter: August 15, 11:21 A.M. |
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Full Moon: August 22, 8:02 A.M. |
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Last Quarter: August 30, 3:15 A.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 2021
Below are the best days for activities, according to the Moon’s sign and phase in August.
| Activity | Best Days |
| Cutting Hay | 25, 26 |
| Setting Eggs | 1, 20, 21, 29, 30 |
| Fishing | 8-22 |
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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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.
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.
You are correct in that one can not actually see a new Moon, at least with the unaided eye, unless there is a solar eclipse (which requires proper eye protection). If one were somehow to see a new Moon on a non-eclipse day, then that would really be a stroke of luck! However, an alternate meaning of “new Moon” refers to the time when the thinnest of crescents first becomes visible. Similarly, we are guessing that “new Moon” in this bit of folklore actually means “around the time of the new Moon,” such as a day or two after, when the crescent is just beginning to show.
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