August 2025 Full Moon: Dates and Names Explained
Whether you’re drawn to full moons for their intriguing effects on sleep, mood, or simply enjoy the beauty of the night sky, August’s full moon is a lovely sight to behold. Beyond the myths, this month’s full moon holds seasonal significance in the lunar calendar. Here’s when it’s happening, what it’s called, and its deeper meanings.
When is the August full moon?
August’s full moon will grace the sky on Saturday, August 9. The previous full moon was on July 10. According to Astronomy.com, this month’s full moon will reach its peak at 3:55 am ET.
What is the August full moon called?
Each full moon carries a special name, a practice rooted in traditions of early cultures who used the lunar cycle to mark time and seasonal changes. August’s full moon is affectionately known as the Sturgeon Moon, according to NASA.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be observed on September 7, 2025, as projected by Royal Museums Greenwich.
What are the lunar phases?
The full moon represents just one phase within a 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s journey around our planet. The different phases illustrate how the moon appears from Earth, shifting as it orbits us. While we see the same face of the moon each time, the illuminated portion changes, leading to full moons, half moons, and even periods where the moon seems invisible. There are eight primary moon phases, each cycling in harmony:
- New Moon – The moon hides between Earth and the sun, leaving its face dark and unseen.
- Waxing Crescent – A delicate sliver of light begins to appear on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).
- First Quarter – Half of the moon glows brightly on the right side, resembling a half-moon.
- Waxing Gibbous – More than half of the moon is illuminated, nearing fullness.
- Full Moon – The moon shines brightly, fully illuminated for all to appreciate.
- Waning Gibbous – The illumination starts to fade on the right side.
- Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, with the left side now aglow.
- Waning Crescent – A slender sliver of light remains on the left side before darkness returns.
