Minnesota’s August Full Moon Comes With a Rare Surprise

Get ready to look to the night sky later this month, because if you do, you'll be treated to not just any full moon, but you'll instead get a glimpse of the Sturgeon Moon as it treks across the Minnesota sky.

Seeing as I head into work early in the morning, if the skies are clear, I'm usually treated to various constellations, a few planets every now and again, and, of course, the moon. And if you're a sky-gazer as well, the last week of the month is set to be another big one here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Why Is August's Full Moon Called the Sturgeon Moon?

That's because while a full moon occurs around once a month, the August full moon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, will also feature a partial lunar eclipse. And that is a phenomenon we haven't seen in several years.

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Why is the August full moon called a 'Sturgeon Moon?' It's actually a Native American name, the Old Farmer's Almanac says, that 'reflects the time of year that the giant fish are most easily pulled from the waters of the North American Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.'

When Is the 2026 Sturgeon Moon in Minnesota?

The Old Farmer's Almanac says that August’s Sturgeon Moon will crest on Friday, August 28, but will reach its peak illumination here in Minnesota at 11:18 P.M. CDT on Thursday, August 27. Whether we'll be able to see it, however, will depend on whether or not skies in the North Star State will be cloudy or clear that night.

And seeing as the Sturgeon Moon won't make an appearance in Minnesota for another three weeks, that's a bit too far out to get any type of accurate weather forecast to see if we'll be able to witness it in person this year.

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Minnesota's Sturgeon Moon Will Include a Partial Lunar Eclipse

But if Mother Nature cooperates, we'll get an extra treat included along with the Sturgeon Moon this year. That's because, as we mentioned earlier, this year's Sturgeon Moon will also feature a partial lunar eclipse. Space.com notes that the event will be the first deep partial lunar eclipse anywhere in the world since Sept. 18, 2024, and will be the most impressive lunar eclipse until a total lunar eclipse on Dec. 31, 2028.