Moon Phases August 2026
The full moon in August 2026 is on 28 August at 04:18 UTC — traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon. The new moon falls on 12 August at 17:36 UTC. Times are UTC.
Why the August 2026 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 | Waning Gibbous | 92% |
| 2 | Waning Gibbous | 85% |
| 3 | Waning Gibbous | 77% |
| 4 | Last Quarter | 67% |
| 5 | Last Quarter | 56% |
| 6 | Last Quarter | 45% |
| 7 | Last Quarter | 34% |
| 8 | Waning Crescent | 23% |
| 9 | Waning Crescent | 14% |
| 10 | Waning Crescent | 7% |
| 11 | New Moon | 2% |
| 12 | New Moon | 0% |
| 13 | New Moon | 1% |
| 14 | Waxing Crescent | 4% |
| 15 | Waxing Crescent | 10% |
| 16 | Waxing Crescent | 17% |
| 17 | Waxing Crescent | 26% |
| 18 | First Quarter | 35% |
| 19 | First Quarter | 45% |
| 20 | First Quarter | 54% |
| 21 | First Quarter | 64% |
| 22 | Waxing Gibbous | 72% |
| 23 | Waxing Gibbous | 80% |
| 24 | Waxing Gibbous | 87% |
| 25 | Waxing Gibbous | 93% |
| 26 | Full Moon | 97% |
| 27 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 28 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 29 | Full Moon | 98% |
| 30 | Waning Gibbous | 94% |
| 31 | Waning Gibbous | 88% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in August 2026?
The full moon in August 2026 is on 28 August at 04:18 UTC, traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon.
What time is the full moon in August 2026?
The moon reaches full phase at 04:18 UTC on 28 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 2026 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 2026?
The new moon in August 2026 is on 12 August at 17:36 UTC.