August Full Moon 2025: Shining With Saturn, Venus, Jupiter & Mercury
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
- When is the Full Moon in August 2025?
- August Full Moon in Capricornus
- August Full Moon & Planet Alignment: Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury & More
- August Full Moon name
- When is the next Full Moon?
- August Full Moon 2025: bottom line
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.
Moon phases for 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.
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, even if only 1-2 per hour.
Also, you can explore deep-sky objects visible in August or find other great targets for your location. Not sure where to look? The Visible Tonight feature in the Sky Tonight app will guide you to the best sights in the night sky!
August Full Moon in Capricornus
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.
August Full Moon & Planet Alignment: Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury & More
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 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 next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon, or the Corn Moon, will be on September 7, 2025. 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.
August Full Moon 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 Sky Tonight 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!
