Shooting stars and a moon named after one of the most unattractive fish in the river, there's no shortage of excitement for August's night sky in 2025!

The Perseid Meteor Shower

Going on now through late August is the Perseid meteor shower.  According to Space, this is one of the most prolific showers of the year, and is known for producing shooting stars that won't disappoint!

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most prolific showers of the year, producing rich, bright streaks. The Perseids are active from mid-July until late August and will peak on the night of Aug. 12, before dawn on Aug. 13, 2025, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

Around the time the Perseid meteor shower peaks is also when the moon will be close to its fullest, so it may be a bit difficult to see shooting stars during the meteor shower peak, but not impossible.  So when is August's full moon?

The Full Sturgeon Moon

August's full moon is the Full Sturgeon Moon, and I can think of about 17 other fish off the top of my head that are much more attractive than the sturgeon, but hey, they didn't ask me to nickname the full moon each month  (their loss, because I think I could have come up with some great names, but I digress...).

So why is it called the Sturgeon Moon?  The Farmer's Almanac says: 

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.

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If you're like me and love the full moon regardless of it''s name, then you'll be in for a treat because during August's full moon, you may even catch a glimpse of a shooting star, but you'll have to look closely!

When is August's Full Moon?

You can see the Full Sturgeon Moon on August 9th, peaking during the early morning hours around 2:55 AM CDT.  To learn more about August's full moon, you can see what the Farmer's Almanac has to say, here.