When to See the Full Moon in August
August’s Full Moon is at its most illuminated at 04:18 UTC on August 28, 2026.
The Full Moon will line up almost perfectly with the Sun and Earth, creating a partial lunar eclipse so deep that we will get a Blood Moon.
The Moon always appears full in the days before and after peak illumination. Full Moon is the only phase where the Moon is up all night, with moonrise and moonset occurring around sunset and sunrise.
Where is the Moon right now? Our Moon location tool shows you the Moon’s phases and distance from Earth right now. Use the toolbar below the animation, or the menu on the side, to jump to different dates.
Moon Phase Times August 2026
Moon phases are divided into primary and intermediate: Primary Moon phases happen at a specific moment in time, while the intermediate Moon phases occupy the times in between.
First, a Total Solar Eclipse
This month is big for the Moon: it’s the second eclipse season of 2026. Two big eclipses are on the program: Mainland Europe’s first totality in 27 years, and a deep partial lunar eclipse Blood Moon.
On August 12, the New Moon will pass in front of the Sun, creating a total solar eclipse. This will be the first total solar eclipse mainland Europe has seen since 1999! The path of totality will sweep across Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. A large partial eclipse—where the Moon covers nearly all of the Sun—can be seen across Europe.
We will have two live stream teams on the ground in Spain, also with partners in Iceland, and across Europe and North America.
Then, a Deep Lunar Eclipse
Two weeks later, on the night of August 27–28, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, giving us a very deep partial lunar eclipse.
It is so deep that Earth’s darkest shadow—its umbra—will bathe the Full Moon in a rusty red color. A great sight to behold!
What is a Blood Moon?We’re live-streaming the lunar eclipse as well. You can catch it on our live page, and don’t forget to hit subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss out on these spectacular events.
The Moon & Planets in August
Every month, the Moon completes one circuit around the sky, passing through the same 12 or so constellations that the Sun does over the course of a year.
Along the way, the Moon sweeps by each of the planets. This month’s notable close approaches are as follows:
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August 3 or 4, Moon-Saturn: The Third Quarter Moon meets up with Saturn again this month, and you can see them together from midnight to morning. See what it looks like from New York just before sunrise.
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August 9, Moon-Mars: The Waning Crescent Moon rises with Mars just before sunrise. See it on our Night Sky Map for London.
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August 15 or 16, Moon-Venus: Go out just after sunset to see the thin Crescent Moon close to Venus. Even during twilight, both are bright enough to be easily seen. See the view from New York on the 15th and Sydney on the 16th.
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August 31, Moon-Saturn: The Moon makes its round back to Saturn again. See what it looks like from London.
The above close approaches are visible from more or less any part of the world—we’ve included the examples from our Night Sky Map to give you a taste of the view from different cities.
Where Is the Moon in the Zodiac in August?
At Full Moon in August 2026, the Moon will be in the constellation Aquarius.
See Aquarius from your locationEach month, as it completes one orbit around the Earth, the Moon appears to travel through constellations within the zodiac, which astronomers define as a strip of sky either side of the ecliptic.
These include the 12 “traditional” constellations of the zodiac—such as Aries and Libra—plus the lesser-known constellation Ophiuchus. And because the Moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic, it occasionally wanders into other constellations, too, such as Auriga.
The Full Moon in August Is the Sturgeon Moon
The Full Moon in August is called the Sturgeon Moon because of the large number of sturgeon fish that were found in the Great Lakes in North America this time of year.
This Full Moon is also known as the Corn Moon and the Grain Moon. Other names include the Lynx Moon, Dispute Moon, and the Lightning Moon.
Frequently Asked Moon Questions
When is the next Full Moon?
This month’s Full Moon is on August 28 at 04:18 UTC. It is the 9th Full Moon of 2026. The next Full Moon will be on September 26.
Does the Full Moon affect moods?
Overall, there has been little hard evidence to prove that the Moon has a measurable effect on human physiology and behavior.
When was the last Blue Moon?
The last Blue Moon was on May 31, 2026; the next Blue Moon is on May 20, 2027.