The August 2026 Sturgeon Moon Will Turn Coppery During a Partial Lunar Eclipse

On August 27, 2026, the Sturgeon Moon will achieve full phase at 11:18 p.m. Central Time, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. This full moon will be visible opposite the sun in Earth's sky, with nearly all of its illuminated face on display. The moon will rise around sunset, set around sunrise, and can appear full for several nights after. Viewers should observe a nearly round moon on both Thursday and Friday.

A partial lunar eclipse will accompany the Sturgeon Moon's full phase. This eclipse will commence at 9:34 p.m. Central Time and peak at 11:13 p.m. Central Time, just five minutes before the moon attains full phase. During peak, approximately 96 percent of the moon's visible disk will reside within Earth's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow, leaving a narrow portion brightly illuminated. The shadowed moon may exhibit a coppery hue at this point.

The August full moon bears the name Sturgeon Moon, referencing the inland waters of eastern and central North America, particularly the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. The lake sturgeon, a species found in these regions, was historically significant as a seasonal food source. While technically not an astronomical classification, this cultural and seasonal name has gained popularity.

Lake sturgeon, North America's largest and longest-lived freshwater fish, possess bony plates covering their bodies and barbels around their mouths for searching lake and river bottoms for sustenance. Despite their slow growth and reproduction rates, these fish are vulnerable to environmental changes, commercial harvesting, dams disrupting their reproduction routes, and habitat degradation.

Efforts to restore sturgeon populations through hatchery releases and habitat restoration have shown some success, allowing the fish to return to several waterways and maintain existing populations.