This stunning view of the full Sturgeon Moon suspended between New York's iconic skyscrapers was taken by Nazli Zeynep Karabulut on the night of Aug. 9, as the lunar disk rose over New York and was temporarily speared by the point of the Empire State Building.

This month, the full moon peaked just before 4 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, Aug. 9. But Americans have been treated to a bright light in the night sky for a few days now, as Earth's neighbor has appeared completely illuminated by direct sunlight since entering its "full" phase this week.

Tonight's full moon will shine for days. Here's when and what to know about August full sturgeon moon meaning and this month's moon phases.

August’s Full Sturgeon Moon shines brightly in the sky tonight, showing off the rayed crater Tycho in the south.

The moon will shine bright when the sun sets on Friday evening, Aug. 8, but the official peak of the August 2025 full moon is not until the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 9, according to Time and Date. Moonwatchers willing to stay awake for the nighttime spectacle will have the chance to peer at it while at its brightest.

Fans of the night sky were treated to a beautiful display last night, as a particularly spectacular Sturgeon Moon coincided with a meteor shower. Those lucky enough to live in an area without too much light pollution were able to watch the Perseids near the peak of their activity.

The full moon arrives this weekend. Some areas of the country with extra haze and smoke may see the moon appear more orange near the horizon.