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3w ago

Sturgeon Moon to Peak August 9 Ahead of Close Pass by Saturn and Neptune

Astronomers have released local peak times from New York to Delhi so observers can secure clear eastern horizons for the key night of August 9.

Image
People stand with the full "sturgeon moon" in the background, in Arguineguin, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, August 1, 2023.
A stock image shows August's full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, which will illuminate the night skies on August 9.
Sturgeon Moon

Overview

  • Peak illumination occurs at 3:55 a.m. EDT on August 9 with local timings ranging from 8:55 a.m. in London and 2:25 p.m. in Delhi to 12:55 a.m. in Los Angeles.
  • The name Sturgeon Moon reflects historic late-summer sturgeon abundance in the Great Lakes and it is also known as the Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon and Red Moon.
  • On August 12 the moon will pass about 3.5° north of Saturn at 12:01 UTC and lie within a similar separation from Neptune in the eastern sky.
  • Observers are advised to choose elevated, clear east-facing sites and bring binoculars or a small telescope to enhance lunar detail.
  • Appearing low in the constellation Aquarius at dusk, the moonrise offers a chance to experience the “Moon illusion,” which makes it look unusually large.