August Full Moon 2025 Meets a Planetary Alignment & Rivals the Perseids
The Full Moon will occur on Saturday, August 9. It was named the Sturgeon Moon by Native American tribes who fished for lake sturgeon during late summer. This year, it will set next to a morning alignment of Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter, making the view even more spectacular. Want to track the Moon and planets in real-time? Use the Sky Tonight app to find them in your sky. Now, let’s dive into the details of this August Full Moon!
Contents
- Moon Phases: August 2025
- When Is the Next Full Moon 2025?
- What Zodiac Sign Is the August Full Moon in?
- What Is Special About the August Full Moon 2025?
- August Full Moon Name
- When Is the Full Moon in August 2025: Bottom Line
Moon Phases: August 2025
Here are the Moon phase dates and times for August 2025:
- First Quarter: August 1, 12:41 GMT
- Full Moon: August 9, 07:55 GMT
- Last Quarter: August 16, 05:12 GMT
- New Moon: August 23, 06:06 GMT
- First Quarter: August 31, 06:25 GMT
Check out our interactive lunar calendar online for more details. Or use the Moon tab in the calendar of the Sky Tonight astronomy app. There, you can learn the lunar phase, illumination, moonset and moonrise times, and even the Moon's angular size for every day of the chosen month. Watch our video tutorial to learn more about the calendar and its features.
When Is the Full Moon in August 2025?
The Moon will reach its full phase on Saturday, August 9, at 07:55 GMT (03:55 a.m. EDT). But don’t worry if you miss this exact moment — the Moon will appear full the night before and after as well.
When Is the New Moon in August 2025?
The New Moon on August 23 at 06:06 GMT will bring ideal conditions for stargazing, with a dark sky perfect for spotting faint celestial objects. For example, you can catch some Perseid meteors. While the Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12, the bright gibbous Moon will interfere with visibility at the peak date. Closer to the New Moon, the sky will be darker, allowing you to catch a few Perseid meteors.
Also, you can explore deep-sky objects visible in August or find other great targets for your location. Not sure what to observe in your sky now? The Visible Tonight feature in the Sky Tonight app will guide you to the best sights in the night sky!
When Is the Next Full Moon 2025?
The next Full Moon after the Full Moon on August 9, 2025, is the Corn Moon. It will occur on September 7. Use our colorful Full Moon calendar to learn the upcoming Full Moons' times, dates, and names.
When Is the Next Sturgeon Moon?
The Sturgeon Moon is a traditional name for the Full Moon in August. In 2025, the Sturgeon Moon will occur on August 9. After that, the next Sturgeon Moon will be on August 28, 2026.
What Zodiac Sign Is the August Full Moon in?
Depending on the year, the August Full Moon can be in one of two zodiac constellations: Capricornus or Aquarius. In 2025, it will be in the constellation Capricornus. Check the Moon’s position in the real sky above you with the help of Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight.
Some astrologers claim that the August 2025 Full Moon is in Aquarius. However, zodiac signs don’t always correspond with zodiac constellations. Check out our colorful infographic to learn the difference.
What Is Special About the August Full Moon 2025?
August Full Moon 2025 and 6-Planet Alignment
The August Full Moon comes with a stunning planetary lineup! Just before sunrise, as the Moon sets in the west, look for Saturn glowing nearby in Pisces. In two days, on August 12, Saturn will get even closer to the Moon, at a distance of up to 3°33'.
Meanwhile, on the eastern horizon, Venus and Jupiter will shine brightly together in Gemini. On August 12 they will reach a conjunction, separated by only 0°51'. Closer to the horizon, you can spot Mercury, positioned in Cancer.
Got a telescope or binoculars? You’ll also see Uranus and Neptune, adding to this morning’s celestial spectacle.
This planetary alignment makes a beautiful backdrop for the Full Moon’s farewell before dawn. Want to know more about it? Check out this infographic for observation tips and details!
August Full Moon 2025 vs. the Perseids: Who Wins?
In August 2025, two highly anticipated celestial events will occur just days apart: the Full Moon on August 9 and the Perseid meteor shower peak on the night of August 11–12. While this may sound like a double treat for stargazers, it’s not exactly a match. During the Perseids' peak, the Moon will be about 92% illuminated, and its bright light will wash out many of the fainter meteors.
That doesn't mean the Moon will completely ruin the meteor show, though. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy both events. Watch the Moon until the predawn hours and then try to view the Perseids when the sky is darker. If you’re in a location where the Moon sets behind a tall tree, building, or mountain, that natural shield can improve your visibility of the meteors earlier in the night.
So who wins this cosmic face-off? The August Moon steals the spotlight, but with a little strategy, the Perseids still put on a show — especially if you're patient and lucky enough to catch a few bright fireballs cutting through the moonlight.
Will the Full Moon in August 2025 be a Supermoon?
In 2025, the August Full Moon is not a Supermoon. However, it may look bigger due to the Moon illusion, which occurs when you observe the Moon near the horizon. The first Supermoon of 2025 is the Harvest Moon on October 7. It will be 6.6% larger and 13% brighter than an average Full Moon.
August Full Moon Name
Sturgeon Moon Meaning
The August Full Moon is called the Sturgeon Moon, which is the traditional name for the Full Moon this month. Most known names for the Full Moon come from Native Americans, who based them on the features of a particular month. For many tribes living around the Great Lakes, August was traditionally the time to fish for sturgeon, hence the name for the August Full Moon.
A sturgeon is a large freshwater fish that has been living on the Earth since prehistoric times. Since then, they haven’t undergone any significant changes: some even call them living fossils. They can grow to over 2-3.5 meters long and weigh around 90 kilos. Female sturgeons can live up to 150 years; it takes them about 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only have offspring every four years.
There are about 26 sturgeon species worldwide, and all of them are endangered due to intense overfishing and water pollution. Let the name of the August Full Moon be a reminder to take care of nature.
Raksha Bandhan Moon
In Hindu culture, the August Full Moon marks the popular festival of Raksha Bandhan, a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie rakhis (decorative threads) on their brothers' wrists, symbolizing love and protection. The term “Raksha Bandhan” means “knot of protection” in Sanskrit, highlighting the festival’s deeper meaning. Beyond siblings, rakhis are also exchanged among friends and neighbors.
The festival is celebrated on the Full Moon of Shravana, the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar, which falls between mid-July and late August.
August Full Moon Alternative Names
The Full Moon in August also marked the start of a harvesting season in the Northern Hemisphere. Native American names for the August Full Moon include Corn Moon, Ricing Moon, and Black Cherries Moon. The Anglo-Saxons called it the Grain Moon.
Among the Cree people, the August Full Moon was known as the Flying Up Moon because the young birds learn to fly around this time. Many cultures also call it the Red Moon because of the reddish shade the Moon acquires in the late summer haze.
The other alternative names for the August Full Moon include:
- Chinese: Harvest Moon
- Celtic: Dispute Moon
- Wiccan: Herbal Moon
- Cherokee: Fruit Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon
When Is the Full Moon in August 2025: Bottom Line
The August Full Moon will occur on August 9, 2025, at 07:55 GMT. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, it takes its name from Native American tribes who fished for lake sturgeon, which were most abundant in late summer. This year, the August Full Moon will coincide with a spectacular planetary alignment featuring Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. For those with telescopes or binoculars, Uranus and Neptune will also be visible, adding to the celestial display. You can easily locate all the planets using the Planet Walk feature of the free Star Walk 2 app. Don't miss this rare celestial event, and plan ahead for future Full Moon observations with our Full Moon Calendar 2025.
Clear skies and happy stargazing!
