August Full Moon 2026 (Sturgeon Moon): Date, Time & Lunar Eclipse
The Full Moon in August 2026 — traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon — occurs on Friday, August 28, at 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT). It will shine in the constellation Aquarius. This Full Moon is especially noteworthy because it will undergo a deep partial lunar eclipse.
Want to know when the Sturgeon Moon rises in your city? Use the free astronomy app Sky Tonight. Read on to learn the meaning behind the Sturgeon Moon name and the best ways to observe it.
Contents
- August Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- August 2026 Moon dates & times
- Best time to see the August Full Moon 2026
- August Full Moon and the partial lunar eclipse
- What constellation is the August Full Moon in?
- August Full Moon name: why is it called the Sturgeon Moon?
- Sturgeon Moon spiritual meaning
- Raksha Bandhan Moon 2026
- August Full Moon 2026: Frequently asked questions
- August Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
August Full Moon 2026 at a glance
- Date: August 28, 2026
- Peak time: 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT)
- Looks full: around August 27–29
- Name & meaning: Sturgeon Moon — linked with the late-summer sturgeon fishing season around the Great Lakes
- Where in the sky: constellation Aquarius
- Special feature: during a deep partial eclipse, Earth’s shadow will cover about 96% of the lunar disk
August 2026 Moon dates & times
August Moon phases 2026
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in August 2026:
- Last Quarter: August 6, 02:21 GMT/UTC (August 5, 10:21 PM EDT)
- New Moon: August 12, 17:37 GMT/UTC (1:37 PM EDT)
- First Quarter: August 20, 02:46 GMT/UTC (August 19, 10:46 PM EDT)
- Full Moon: August 28, 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT)
Did you know? Although the Full Moon is impressive to the naked eye, the quarter phases are often better for exploring the lunar surface through binoculars or a telescope. Shadows along the terminator — the line between lunar day and night — make craters, mountains, and ridges stand out more clearly.
Want to see the Moon phase for every day of August 2026? Check our interactive Moon Calendar.
When is the Full Moon in August 2026?
The August Full Moon occurs on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT). At this moment, the Moon reaches its full phase, when it lies opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky. To the eye, however, the Moon will look full for about a day before and after this exact moment — on August 27, 28, and 29.
In many parts of North and South America, the Full Moon moment falls during the night of August 27–28. In Europe, it occurs early on August 28, while in Asia and Oceania, it happens during the daytime on August 28.
You can see how the Moon will look on any selected date in the Sky Tonight app: tap the calendar icon, open the Moon tab, and choose a date. The app shows the lunar phase, illumination, angular size, orientation, moonrise, and moonset for your location.
Full Moon in August 2026: Time in popular time zones
Here’s when the August Full Moon occurs in several popular time zones.
North & South America
- US ET: 12:18 AM on August 28
- US CT: 11:18 PM on August 27
- US MT: 10:18 PM on August 27
- US PT: 9:18 PM on August 27
- Brazil (BRT): 1:18 AM on August 28
Europe
- UK (BST): 05:18 on August 28
- Central Europe (CEST): 06:18 on August 28
Asia
- India (IST): 09:48 on August 28
- China (CST): 12:18 on August 28
- Japan (JST): 13:18 on August 28
Oceania
- Australia (AEST): 14:18 on August 28
- New Zealand (NZST): 16:18 on August 28
When is the New Moon in August 2026?
The New Moon occurs on August 12, 2026, at 17:37 GMT/UTC (1:37 PM EDT). This New Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, producing a total solar eclipse visible along a narrow path crossing the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. A partial solar eclipse will be visible across a much wider area.
The moonless night of August 12–13 also coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, creating excellent conditions for seeing meteors after dark.
Best time to see the August Full Moon 2026
For viewing the Full Moon, the best time is around local moonrise on the evening closest to the exact Full Moon. The Moon often looks especially large and colorful near the horizon, and the low angle makes it easier to include buildings, trees, or landscapes in photos.
In 2026, observers in the Americas and Europe should look on the evening of August 27. In Asia and Oceania, the evening of August 28 will be closer to the exact Full Moon.
Here are example moonrise times around the August Full Moon:
| City | Date | Moonrise time (local) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | August 27 | 7:25 PM |
| Los Angeles | August 27 | 7:17 PM |
| Chicago | August 27 | 7:22 PM |
| London | August 27 | 19:44 |
| Paris | August 27 | 20:28 |
| Beijing | August 28 | 18:53 |
| Tokyo | August 28 | 18:14 |
| Sydney | August 28 | 17:39 |
In locations where the partial lunar eclipse is visible, the best time to watch it will be around the eclipse maximum at 04:13 GMT/UTC on August 28. Start watching 30–60 minutes earlier to see Earth’s dark shadow gradually spread across the Moon.
Want the exact moonrise and eclipse times for your city? In Sky Tonight, search for the Moon or the August lunar eclipse. The app will show whether the eclipse is visible from your location and where the Moon will appear in your sky.
The Moon illusion: why the Sturgeon Moon may look huge
Around moonrise, the August Full Moon may seem much larger than it does later in the night. This is the Moon illusion: the Moon itself does not suddenly grow, but our brain compares it with familiar objects near the horizon, such as buildings, hills, or trees.
The effect is easiest to notice shortly after moonrise, when the Sturgeon Moon is still low in the sky. The Moon may also look yellow, orange, or reddish because its light passes through more of Earth’s atmosphere near the horizon.
August Full Moon and the partial lunar eclipse
On the night of August 27–28, 2026, the Full Sturgeon Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse. At maximum, nearly the entire Moon will be inside the umbra — the darkest part of Earth’s shadow — leaving only a narrow bright edge uncovered.
Although this is not a total lunar eclipse, it may look very close to one. Much of the shadowed lunar surface can take on a muted red, brown, or copper color.
Learn when and where to see this event in our complete guide to the partial lunar eclipse on August 27–28, 2026.
What constellation is the August Full Moon in?
In the sky, the August Full Moon 2026 will be located in the constellation Aquarius. According to astrology, the August 2026 Full Moon is in the sign of Pisces. The difference exists because astrological signs and astronomical constellations divide the zodiac in different ways, and Earth’s axial precession has gradually shifted their alignment over thousands of years.
Learn more in our infographic: 12 Zodiac Signs vs. 13 Constellations of the Ecliptic.
August Full Moon name: why is it called the Sturgeon Moon?
The August Full Moon is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon. The name is commonly linked with Indigenous peoples living around the Great Lakes, where late summer was an important season for catching lake sturgeon and other fish.
Sturgeons are ancient fish whose ancestors appeared more than 200 million years ago. Some species can grow several meters long and live for more than a century. Today, many sturgeon populations are threatened by overfishing, dams, habitat loss, and water pollution.
August Full Moon alternative names
Different cultures have used names for the August Full Moon connected with harvests, ripening plants, animals, and seasonal weather. Names commonly associated with this Full Moon include:
- Flying Up Moon — a Cree name describing the time when young birds learn to fly
- Corn Moon — an Algonquin and Ojibwe name associated with gathering ripening corn
- Harvest Moon — a Dakota name marking the gathering of maturing crops
- Ricing Moon — an Anishinaabe name associated with harvesting wild rice
- Black Cherries Moon — an Assiniboine name referring to the ripening of chokecherries
- Mountain Shadows Moon — a Tlingit name inspired by the long shadows cast by mountains under the August Full Moon
- Blueberry Moon — an Ojibwe name connected with the wild blueberry harvest
- Wheat Cut Moon — an Anglo-Saxon name marking the cutting of wheat
- Grain Moon — a European name associated with the late-summer grain harvest
- Wyrt Moon, or Wort Moon — an Anglo-Saxon name connected with gathering herbs
- Lightning Moon — a European name associated with thunderstorms in late summer
In the Southern Hemisphere, August falls in winter, so seasonal names may include Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, or Wolf Moon.
Sturgeon Moon spiritual meaning
In modern spiritual traditions, the Sturgeon Moon is often associated with resilience, inner strength, and deep emotional reflection. The symbolism comes partly from sturgeons themselves: ancient, enduring fish that move through deep water.
Some people use this Full Moon as a time to reflect on what has been growing beneath the surface, recognize personal progress, or let go of emotions they have avoided. The 2026 lunar eclipse may add themes of change or release in astrological interpretations.
Raksha Bandhan Moon 2026
In 2026, the August Full Moon also coincides with Raksha Bandhan, celebrated on Friday, August 28. This Hindu festival honors the bond of love, care, and protection between siblings.
During the celebration, sisters traditionally tie a decorative thread called a rakhi around their brothers’ wrists, and brothers offer gifts and promise support and protection. Today, the ritual is also shared between sisters, friends, and other loved ones.
Raksha Bandhan is observed on the Full Moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, which is why its date changes from year to year in the Gregorian calendar.
August Full Moon 2026: Frequently asked questions
When is the Sturgeon Moon in 2026?
The Sturgeon Moon reaches its exact Full Moon moment on August 28, 2026, at 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT). For observers in the eastern US, this is just after midnight on August 28; farther west, it falls late on August 27. The Moon will appear full for about a day before and after the peak.
Is the August 2026 Sturgeon Moon a Supermoon?
No, the August 2026 Sturgeon Moon is not a Supermoon. A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon is near perigee, the closest point in the Moon’s orbit around Earth. The next Super Full Moon will occur on November 24, 2026. Learn more in our guide to Supermoons 2026.
Is the August 2026 lunar eclipse a Blood Moon?
Not in the usual popular sense. “Blood Moon” is not an official astronomical term, but it most often refers to a total lunar eclipse. On August 28, a thin bright edge of the Moon will remain outside the umbra, so the eclipse is classified as partial. However, most of the darkened disk may still look reddish or coppery.
Do I need eclipse glasses for the August lunar eclipse?
No. Lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. Eclipse glasses are needed for solar eclipses, not lunar ones.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon after the Sturgeon Moon occurs on September 26, 2026, at 16:49 GMT/UTC (12:49 PM EDT). It will be the Full Moon closest to the September equinox and is traditionally known as the Harvest Moon.
When is the next Sturgeon Moon?
The next Sturgeon Moon after August 28, 2026, will occur on August 17, 2027, at 07:29 GMT/UTC (3:29 AM EDT).
August Full Moon 2026: key takeaways
The August Full Moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, occurs on August 28, 2026, at 04:18 GMT/UTC (12:18 AM EDT). It will appear bright and full from around August 27 to 29 and will be located in the constellation Aquarius. The name Sturgeon Moon is linked with the late-summer sturgeon fishing season around the Great Lakes.
This year, the Full Moon will coincide with a deep partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse reaches its maximum at 04:13 GMT/UTC on August 28, when about 96% of the lunar disk will be covered by Earth’s shadow.
To get the exact moonrise time and lunar phase for your location, launch Sky Tonight, tap the Calendar icon, and open the Moon tab.
Clear skies and successful observations!
