Moon Phases August 2023
The full moon in August 2023 is on 1 August at 18:31 UTC — traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon. The new moon falls on 16 August at 09:38 UTC. August 2023 holds a second full moon on 31 August at 01:35 UTC — a Blue Moon. Times are UTC.
Why the August 2023 full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon
Named for the sturgeon most readily caught in late summer.
These are the traditional Colonial and Native American names popularised by the farmers’ almanacs. They are folklore, not astronomy — the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable, the names are naming convention.
Moon phase day by day
| Day | Phase | Illumination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 2 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 3 | Waning Gibbous | 95% |
| 4 | Waning Gibbous | 89% |
| 5 | Waning Gibbous | 80% |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous | 70% |
| 7 | Last Quarter | 60% |
| 8 | Last Quarter | 49% |
| 9 | Last Quarter | 39% |
| 10 | Waning Crescent | 29% |
| 11 | Waning Crescent | 21% |
| 12 | Waning Crescent | 13% |
| 13 | Waning Crescent | 7% |
| 14 | New Moon | 3% |
| 15 | New Moon | 1% |
| 16 | New Moon | 0% |
| 17 | New Moon | 1% |
| 18 | Waxing Crescent | 4% |
| 19 | Waxing Crescent | 9% |
| 20 | Waxing Crescent | 15% |
| 21 | Waxing Crescent | 22% |
| 22 | First Quarter | 31% |
| 23 | First Quarter | 41% |
| 24 | First Quarter | 51% |
| 25 | First Quarter | 62% |
| 26 | Waxing Gibbous | 73% |
| 27 | Waxing Gibbous | 82% |
| 28 | Waxing Gibbous | 90% |
| 29 | Waxing Gibbous | 96% |
| 30 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 31 | Full Moon | 100% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in August 2023?
The full moon in August 2023 is on 1 August at 18:31 UTC, traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon.
What time is the full moon in August 2023?
The moon reaches full phase at 18:31 UTC on 1 August. It looks full to the naked eye for about a day either side of that instant, so the nights before and after are both worth watching.
Why is the August 2023 full moon called the Sturgeon Moon?
Named for the sturgeon most readily caught in late summer. These names come from Colonial and Native American tradition and were popularised by the farmers' almanacs — they are naming convention rather than astronomy, while the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable.
When is the new moon in August 2023?
The new moon in August 2023 is on 16 August at 09:38 UTC.
Is there a Blue Moon in August 2023?
Yes. August 2023 holds two full moons — the second, on 31 August at 01:35 UTC, is a Blue Moon under the common "second full moon in a calendar month" definition. It is not actually blue.