August’s full moon is set to illuminate Oregon’s night skies.
August’s full moon is known as the sturgeon moon thanks to the giant fish that were once plentiful this time of the year in the waters of the northeastern United States.
The full moon will be visible just before the popular Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak around Aug. 12 to 13.
Here’s what to know about August’s sturgeon moon.
When is the August full moon?
August’s sturgeon moon will reach peak illumination at 12:55 a.m. on Aug. 9. The full moon should be visible as it rises in the sky on the evening of Aug. 8, weather permitting.
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Why is it called the sturgeon moon?
Full moon names are traditionally rooted in Native American culture or have colonial American influences, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
According to the almanac, the name sturgeon moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer and an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region.
“At one time, the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today,” the Almanac said.
As for the fish themselves, these prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago, and many people call them “living fossils.”
What are some other names for August’s full moon?
Alternative names for the August full moon refer to seasonal crops and more. Some of these names include:
- Flying up moon (Cree)
- Corn moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe)
- Harvest moon (Dakota)
- Ricing moon (Anishinaabe)
- Black cherries moon (Assiniboine)
- Mountain shadows moon (Tlingit)
Will it be cloudy in Oregon during August’s full moon?
Oregon will see mostly clear skies throughout the state on Aug. 8, according to the National Weather Service.
There will be a 8-24% chance of cloud cover in the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon, and parts of eastern Oregon will see up to a 28% chance of cloud cover. The Oregon Coast will also be mostly clear but will see the most clouds with a 18-41% chance of cloud cover.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA Today
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at@GinnieSandoval.
