The Sturgeon Moon is the traditional name for the August full moon. It is attributed to Native American and early colonial traditions around the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where sturgeon were easiest to catch at this time of year. Spiritually, it is read as a moon of abundance, depth and slow, patient growth. Exact dates are in the table below.
Sturgeon Moon dates and times
Next sturgeon moonTue, August 17, 2027 · 3:29 AMET
| Date | Time (ET) | Moon |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, August 28, 2026 | 12:19 AM | Partial lunar eclipse |
| Tue, August 17, 2027 | 3:29 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse |
| Sat, August 5, 2028 | 4:10 AM | |
| Thu, August 23, 2029 | 9:51 PM | |
| Tue, August 13, 2030 | 6:44 AM |
Times are US Eastern Time (ET), when the moon is exactly full or at the exact phase. It looks full for about a night either side.
August has a particular heaviness. The days are still long, but the light has started to tilt, the first fields are ready, and the evening air carries a hint that summer is turning. The full moon of this month has an unusual name for something that hangs in the sky: it is named after a fish.
Sturgeon are large, armored, long-lived freshwater fish that look closer to something from the age of dinosaurs than to a modern river. The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the Sturgeon Moon for August, attributing the name to Native American and early colonial traditions in the regions where the fish were plentiful. Below you will find where the name comes from, how to see the moon, what people take it to mean and some ways to mark it.
Why is it called the Sturgeon Moon? Origin and other names
Lake sturgeon are big fish with a bony, plated back and a long snout, and the largest can grow to several feet in length and live for many decades, sometimes more than a century. Sturgeon are among the oldest surviving groups of fish. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the name Sturgeon Moon comes from the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain region, where the fish were easiest to catch in August, and was passed down through Native American and early colonial traditions.
The same full moon carries other names, which show how differently people read the month:
- Green Corn Moon, for the ripening of the corn.
- Grain Moon, for the harvest of grain crops.
- Red Moon, which has been linked to the reddish color the moon takes in the heavy summer haze.
These are seasonal labels rather than formal astronomical terms. The Sturgeon Moon is simply the full moon that occurs in August, which makes it the moon between the Buck Moon of July and the Corn or Harvest Moon of September.
When is the Sturgeon Moon and how to see it
The Sturgeon Moon is the full moon that falls in August. The date and the exact minute change from year to year, and the table below lists them in US Eastern time for the coming years.
Like the July moon, this one rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, because the full moon sits opposite the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere the August Sun is still fairly high, so the full moon travels low across the southern sky. Near the horizon it can look amber, orange or even reddish, since its light passes through a thick layer of air that scatters away the blue end of the spectrum. Summer haze and humidity make the effect stronger, which fits the Red Moon nickname.
One thing worth knowing for stargazers: the Perseid meteor shower peaks around the middle of August. In years when the Sturgeon Moon falls close to that peak, bright moonlight washes out the fainter meteors. In other years the moon is a thin crescent and the sky stays dark.
For the moon itself, find an open eastern horizon within an hour of moonrise, ideally near water for the reflection.
Sturgeon Moon spiritual meaning: depth, patience and abundance
The Sturgeon Moon meaning draws from the fish itself. A sturgeon lives in deep water, moves slowly, grows over decades and carries an armor that has barely changed over a very long time. People who read symbolism into the moon take those traits as the starting point.
- Depth. The sturgeon lives below the surface, where it is dark and quiet. This moon is read as an invitation to look past your first reaction and ask what is underneath.
- Patience. Growth over many years is the opposite of a quick result. The symbol supports staying with something slow.
- Abundance. August is the month the work of spring and summer starts to show up as food on the table. The moon is read as a time for noticing what you already have, with gratitude rather than comparison.
- Resilience. An animal that has survived for so long suggests endurance.
If you feel that your efforts are not producing quickly enough, this moon offers a different measure: depth takes time, and that is not the same as standing still. It does not predict a result. It gives you a way to frame a long stretch of effort.
Sturgeon Moon rituals and ideas for the evening
The Sturgeon Moon pairs naturally with water, gratitude and slow work. Here are practices people use, offered as ideas rather than rules.
- Gratitude list for the season. Write down what summer has brought you, whether food from a garden, a friendship or a finished task. August is the month to count what has ripened.
- Sit by water. A lake, river, pond or even a bowl of water on a table, with the moon reflected in it. Many people find that watching moonlight on water slows their thinking.
- A "deep water" journal prompt. Ask yourself what you have been circling around without looking at directly, and write for ten minutes without editing.
- Choose one long project. Pick something that takes years, and write down the smallest next step.
- Cleanse and charge crystals. Aquamarine, moonstone and labradorite are often placed in moonlight for a water theme. It is a tradition and not something science supports.
- Share a meal. The Green Corn and Grain Moon names invite a table with friends, fresh corn or bread.
Keep the evening small. One honest page in a notebook is enough.
Sturgeon Moon in love and relationships
A fish that lives below the surface suggests that this moon has more to do with emotional depth than with romance on the surface. People often use it to think about what is going unsaid in a relationship.
If you are in a relationship, the Sturgeon Moon is a good evening for a slow conversation rather than a dramatic one. Sit outside, put the phones away and ask one question you have not asked in a while. Sturgeon are built for the long haul, and the symbol points toward patience with each other.
If you are single, think of the moon as a nudge to look at what you want under the first impressions: not only whether someone is attractive or fun, but whether you could still choose them in ten years. That is a reflection prompt, not a rule.
If you are healing from a breakup, the image of deep water can be a comfort. Grief and recovery move at their own speed, and you do not have to surface on a schedule. If the feelings stay heavy for a long time, talking to a friend, family member or counselor can help more than any ritual.
Whatever your situation, the Sturgeon Moon suggests slowing down enough to hear what you feel.
Sturgeon Moon folklore and the astrology angle
Sturgeon have a long history with people. They have been caught for food and for their eggs, and in many river regions they were treated as a seasonal gift. The Old Farmer's Almanac connects the Sturgeon Moon to the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where fishing at this time of year was most productive, and the practical meaning of the name is simple: this is the moon when the fish were there to be caught.
The Red Moon nickname comes from something anyone can see. In hot, humid weather or when wildfire smoke or dust is in the air, the low full moon turns a deep orange or red. That is the same scattering that makes sunsets red. It is not an eclipse.
In astrology, the sign of the August full moon varies. The moon is always opposite the Sun, so its sign depends on exactly when in the month it falls, and it changes from year to year. Astrologers read the sign as coloring the moon's theme, so check the date for the year you are in.
The folk name is more concrete than the astrology: a big fish, a warm night and a moon rising over the water.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sturgeon and why is the moon named after it?
A sturgeon is a large, long-lived fish with bony plates and a long snout, found in rivers and lakes. The name is attributed to Native American and early colonial traditions around the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where the fish were easiest to catch in August, so the month's full moon took its name.
Is the Sturgeon Moon a supermoon or a blood moon?
Not automatically. Sturgeon Moon is only a seasonal name. Some years the August full moon happens to be a supermoon, which means it is close to Earth, and the dates and notes will tell you. A blood moon needs a total lunar eclipse, which is a separate event. A low moon can look red from haze alone.
What are other names for the August full moon?
Besides Sturgeon Moon, the Old Farmer's Almanac lists Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon and Red Moon. Green Corn and Grain refer to what was being harvested, and Red Moon refers to the reddish color of the low moon through summer haze. They all describe the same August full moon.
Does the Sturgeon Moon hide the Perseid meteor shower?
It can. The Perseids peak around the middle of August, and a bright moon in the sky makes faint meteors hard to see. Whether this happens depends on that year's moon phase. In a year when the moon is a crescent or new around the peak, the sky stays dark and the shower is easier to watch.
What should I do under the Sturgeon Moon?
Keep it simple: go outside near moonrise, ideally by water, and write a short gratitude list for the season. Many people also journal about something they have been avoiding, set one long-term intention or share a meal with friends. These are traditions people use for reflection, not guaranteed outcomes.
More moons
- Wolf Moon · January's full moon of winter, instinct and belonging
- Snow Moon · February's full moon of stillness, scarcity and quiet hope
- Worm Moon · March's full moon of thawing ground and new growth
- Pink Moon · April's full moon of blossoms, bloom and fresh starts
- Flower Moon · May's full moon of abundance, color and open hearts
- Strawberry Moon · June's full moon of sweetness and ripeness
- Buck Moon · The July full moon, named for growing antlers
- Corn Moon · The September full moon of the corn harvest
- Harvest Moon · The full moon nearest the autumn equinox
Angel number meanings are for reflection and inspiration. They are not predictions, and they are not medical, legal or financial advice.