🌙 Moon Phases August 2026: See all lunar phases for August 2026 including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter dates. Updated with accurate astronomical data.
About August 2026 moon phases
On August 27, 2026, August's full moon — the Sturgeon Moon — was named by Algonquin tribes around the Great Lakes for the prime sturgeon-fishing window in the lake's late-summer warm waters. The August moon often rises during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, creating a tradeoff for stargazers: bright moonlight washes out fainter meteors but also makes night photography easier.
Benefits
- ·Indicates Perseid meteor-shower visibility (moon brightness affects meteor count)
- ·Lists prime late-summer fishing windows
- ·Pairs with end-of-summer warm-weather viewing
- ·Marks Raksha Bandhan in Hindu tradition
- ·Triggers peak summer-tide variation
How it works
the August 2026 full moon peaks on August 27, 2026. Throughout 2026, the moon completes 12-13 full cycles, each lasting 29.53 days. Distance from Earth varies between 356,500 km (perigee) and 406,700 km (apogee), creating supermoon and micromoon size differences of about 14%. Full-moon timing data on this page comes from the US Naval Observatory and NASA Goddard.
When the August full moon coincides with the Perseids (August 11-13 peak), expected meteor visibility drops by 60-70%. The 'best Perseid years' are those when the August new moon falls during the shower peak. NASA publishes annual moon-Perseid alignment forecasts on its skywatching pages.
Who uses August 2026 moon phases
Photographers planning moonrise shots 2026, August-specific cultural and religious observers, astrology readers tracking August transits, fishermen and surfers reading tide cycles, and anyone curious about which full moon comes next.
Moon Phases August 2026
Moon phases for August 2026. Full Moon on August 27. New Moon on August 12. See daily moon illumination, lunar calendar, and all phases.
Related
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in August 2026?
The full moon in August 2026 falls on August 27, 2026. The exact peak time is shown in the major phases table above. This full moon is traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon in the Old Farmer's Almanac, a name traceable to Algonquian and other Indigenous American sources.
Why is August's full moon called the Sturgeon Moon?
August's full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon in Old Farmer's Almanac tradition, drawn from Indigenous American naming conventions tied to seasonal cycles. Different cultures use different names — Celtic, Chinese, and Hindu calendars assign their own meanings.
When is the new moon in August 2026?
The new moon in August 2026 falls on August 12. New moons are not visible because the moon's lit side faces away from Earth. They are the best night-sky observing nights — without moonlight, fainter stars and meteors become visible.
Why do moon phases shift by date each month?
A complete lunar cycle (synodic month) is 29.53 days, slightly shorter than most calendar months. So each month's full moon falls about 0.5-2 days earlier in the calendar than the previous month's. Occasionally a calendar month contains two full moons — the second is called a "blue moon" (about once every 2.7 years).