Regardless of whether you are fascinated by full moons due to their believed impacts on sleep, emotions, or werewolf phenomena, appreciate a touch of astronomical insight, or merely enjoy staring at them, the full moon in August is definitely worth noting.

Aside from legends, this month’s full moon signifies a crucial moment in the lunar calendar with seasonal relevance. Here’s the schedule, its designation, and its implications.

When will the August full moon take place?

The full moon in August will take place on Saturday, August 9. The prior full moon occurred on July 10.

As stated by Astronomy.com, the full moon in August is set to reach its peak at 3:55 am ET.

What name is given to the August full moon?

Each full moon carries a specific name, a custom originating from ancient societies that utilized the lunar cycle for tracking time and seasonal transitions.

August’s full moon is referred to as the Sturgeon Moon, as per NASA.

When is the following full moon?

The next anticipated full moon is forecasted for September 7, 2025, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

What are the stages of the lunar cycle?

The full moon represents just one day within the lunar phase, a cycle of 29.5 days corresponding to the moon’s orbit. Lunar phases depict how the moon appears from Earth during its orbit around us. We always observe the same hemisphere of the moon, but the amount illuminated by the Sun varies based on its orbital position. This phenomenon leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that seem entirely dark. There are eight principal lunar phases, adhering to a cyclical pattern:

New Moon – The moon is situated between Earth and the sun, rendering the visible side dark (invisible).

Waxing Crescent – A small slice of light emerges on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is illuminated on the right side, appearing as a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – Over half is lit, yet it hasn’t reached full brightness.

Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is lit and completely visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to diminish light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, with the left side now illuminated.

Waning Crescent – A narrow strip of light remains on the left side before it becomes dark again.