This week marked the arrival of the Sturgeon Moon, a moon rising that wows stargazing enthusiasts in the Northern Hemisphere each year.
Named after a massive fish that traces back 136 million years ago and was once bountiful in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, the Sturgeon Moon rises each year in August.
This month, the full moon peaked just before 4 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, Aug. 9. But Americans have been treated to a bright light in the night sky for a few days now, as Earth’s neighbor has appeared completely illuminated by direct sunlight since entering its “full” phase this week.
Viewers saw the Sturgeon Moon approach its peak when it began to shine after sunset Friday evening, Aug. 8, which came a few minutes after 8 p.m. local time in New York City, according to Time and Date. Elsewhere in the country, onlookers got a better glimpse after sunset times around 7:21 p.m. in Phoenix, 7:46 p.m. in Los Angeles, and 7:59 p.m. in Chicago.
Take a look at this year’s Sturgeon Moon as it shined in the night sky this year.
See photos of the August 2025 full moon
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.