There is something special about looking up at a full moon, but this week’s Sturgeon Moon comes with an extra bit of drama. The August full moon reaches peak illumination late Thursday night, August 27, and into the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2026. For Texans, this is not just another beautiful summer moon because the Sturgeon Moon will also pass through Earth’s shadow during a deep partial lunar eclipse.
If the weather cooperates, this is one of those nights when it is worth stepping outside, turning off the porch light, and giving the sky your full attention. The moon will become dramatically darker and take on warm copper and reddish tones as Earth’s shadow moves across its surface. You do not need a telescope or any fancy equipment to enjoy it, either.
When To See The Sturgeon Moon In Texas
The full moon reaches its peak at 12:18 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 28, which puts the exact moment at 11:18 p.m. Central Time here in Texas on Thursday night. That makes Thursday evening the night to watch, particularly if you want to catch the moon rising before the eclipse reaches its most dramatic stage.
The moon will look full for much longer than a single moment, so you do not have to worry about being outside at exactly 11:18 p.m. Still, this year’s timing gives Texas skywatchers a particularly good reason to stay outside a little later than usual. Find a place with a clear view of the eastern sky, settle in, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.
Related: Do Full Moons Really Influence Crime Rates?
Why Is It Called The Sturgeon Moon?
The name Sturgeon Moon comes from the sturgeon fish that were historically abundant in parts of North America during this time of year. The name is generally associated with Indigenous traditions and later appeared in almanacs that preserved and popularized seasonal full moon names. Different communities have used different names for the August moon, so the Sturgeon Moon is one traditional name rather than a universal name shared by every Native nation.
Sturgeon are large freshwater fish, and their seasonal abundance made August an important time for catching them in regions where they were plentiful. The name is a reminder that people once watched the sky and the natural world together, using seasonal changes in animals, plants, weather, and crops to keep track of the year.
This Sturgeon Moon Has An Eclipse
Here’s where this year’s full moon gets particularly interesting. On the night of August 27 into August 28, the full moon will move through Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse that will be visible across much of North and South America. NASA says the eclipse will be visible from much of the Americas, with the moon becoming noticeably darkened and taking on a rusty or coppery appearance along the portion passing through Earth’s darkest shadow.
At the deepest point of the eclipse, roughly 93 percent of the moon’s diameter will be inside Earth’s umbra, the darkest central portion of Earth’s shadow, according to NASA. Other astronomical calculations put the coverage slightly above 96 percent depending on whether the measurement refers to the lunar disc or the portion entering the umbra, but either way, this is a remarkably deep partial eclipse. A narrow portion of the moon will remain illuminated, creating a striking contrast between the bright edge and the reddish shadowed surface.
What Will The Eclipse Look Like?
A lunar eclipse does not happen because the moon suddenly changes color. Instead, Earth moves directly between the sun and moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall across the lunar surface.
As the moon enters the darker part of that shadow, the bright white full moon will gradually lose its usual appearance. During the deepest portion of the eclipse, much of the moon can appear dark red, orange, copper, or rusty brown because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is bent toward the moon. The result can look almost surreal, particularly when the moon is hanging against a clear black Texas sky.
How To Watch From Texas
The best way to watch is remarkably simple. Find a location with a wide-open view of the sky, get away from bright lights if possible, and give yourself enough time to watch the eclipse develop rather than checking the moon for thirty seconds and heading back inside.
You can watch a lunar eclipse safely with your unaided eyes, unlike a solar eclipse, which requires proper eye protection. Binoculars can make the experience even better, while a small telescope can reveal additional detail along the moon’s surface.
Here in Texas, wide-open country roads, farms, backyards, lakes, parks, and rural areas can make excellent viewing locations as long as you are somewhere you are legally allowed to be. If you are photographing it, use a tripod if you have one, because even a bright full moon can produce blurry photographs when you are shooting handheld.
Make A Night Of It
You could simply walk outside and look up, but why not make the evening a little more memorable? Put a chair on the porch, make a glass of iced tea, turn off the unnecessary outdoor lights, and spend a little while watching the moon change.
This is also a perfect excuse for a late-summer gathering. Invite a few friends or family members over, put out some snacks, and let everyone take turns looking through binoculars or a telescope if someone has one. Kids who normally think bedtime is sacred may even decide astronomy is worth making an exception for.
A Late-Summer Sky Worth Remembering
August has already delivered plenty for skywatchers this year, including the Perseid meteor shower and a solar eclipse earlier in the month. Now the Sturgeon Moon is bringing the month to a dramatic close with a full moon and deep partial lunar eclipse happening on the same night.
So on Thursday night, August 27, keep an eye on the sky. The Sturgeon Moon will rise as a familiar bright summer moon, but as the hours pass, Earth’s shadow will slowly take over much of its face. By late evening in Texas, the sky will be putting on one of those quiet shows that costs nothing, requires no reservation, and gives you a pretty good reason to stay outside a little longer. 🌕✨
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and sixteen grandchildren.