Exact Date and Time of the August Full Moon
The full moon of August 2025 occurs on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 03:55 UTC, according to NASA's official lunar phase data. In Eastern Time, this translates to around 11:55 PM on August 8, 2025, for observers in North America. The moon will be located in the constellation Capricornus during peak illumination. For precise timing by city, the U.S. Naval Observatory provides a global full moon calculator here.
This full moon is the third of four full moons in the summer season of 2025. Because there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, it qualifies as a seasonal blue moon, a term defined by the Maine Farmer's Almanac rule. The next seasonal blue moon will not occur until 2028. The moon will appear full to the naked eye for about three days centered on the peak date.
Name, Visibility, and Observational Details
The August full moon is traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon by Native American and colonial American sources, referencing the peak season for catching sturgeon in the Great Lakes and other major waterways. It is also known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon in some agricultural traditions. The moon will rise in the east around sunset on August 8 and set in the west around sunrise on August 9.
Visibility conditions depend on local weather and light pollution. The moon will have an apparent magnitude of roughly -12.7 at peak, making it the brightest object in the night sky after the sun. Observers can use the moon's position near Saturn on August 9 and 10 as a guide for locating it in the southern sky. The next major lunar eclipse visible from the Americas will occur on March 14, 2025, before this full moon.
Cultural and Financial Relevance of the August Full Moon
The full moon influences retail and travel patterns, with companies like Airbnb and Booking Holdings often reporting higher weekend bookings during peak lunar phases. The August full moon also coincides with the back-to-school shopping season, a critical period for retailers such as Walmart and Amazon. According to a 2024 study by the National Retail Federation, back-to-school spending in the U.S. is expected to reach a record level this year.
Some financial analysts reference lunar cycles in seasonal market patterns, though the SEC does not endorse lunar-based investment strategies. The CBOE Volatility Index often shows modest seasonal shifts in August, which overlaps with the full moon period. For investors, the key takeaway is that the August full moon serves as a calendar marker for seasonal consumer trends and corporate earnings windows, not a direct market driver.