Stunning photos capture August's Sturgeon Moon

The August full Moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, illuminated the night sky over the United Kingdom on Thursday, when it also served as a partial lunar eclipse visible to observers in many parts of the country. BBC Weather Watchers captured a series of images that show the Moon turning a deep red as it entered the Earth's umbra, the darkest part of the shadow. The eclipse reached its maximum before dawn, when the Moon was highest in the sky.

During a partial lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface. In the United Kingdom the eclipse was partial because only a portion of the Moon entered the umbra; the rest remained illuminated by direct sunlight. The phenomenon that gives the eclipsed Moon its reddish hue is the scattering of sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere. Short‑wave blue light is dispersed more readily, while longer‑wave red light passes through and illuminates the Moon, which then reflects that light back to observers on Earth.

WeatherWatcher “Selsey Bill” in the White Cliffs of Dover recorded the event when cloud cover was thin, allowing an unobstructed view of the eclipse. Other clear‑skied locations, such as Kent and Hampshire, also provided good views. Photographs taken from Petersfield, Guildford, and Denham show the Moon’s reddish glow against a darkened sky. The eclipse was also visible from other parts of the world, including Ankara, Turkey and the fortress of Rocca Calascio in Italy, where the Moon was seen setting behind the castle’s walls.

The Sturgeon Moon is the August full Moon, a name that originates from the abundance of sturgeon fish in North American rivers during this time of year. Historically, full moons have been given nicknames to help people keep track of the seasons; the next full Moon, on 26 September, will be called the Harvest or Corn Moon, reflecting the traditional time for gathering crops. In the United Kingdom the early summer heat has pushed many harvests forward, making the September Moon less tied to its usual seasonal meaning.

Astronomers note that the next lunar eclipse visible from the UK will occur in February 2027. That eclipse will be a total lunar eclipse, with the Moon entirely passing through the Earth’s umbra. For now, the August event provided a spectacular demonstration of celestial mechanics and atmospheric science for skywatchers across the UK.

BBC Weather Watchers’ photographs of the August Sturgeon Moon have been shared widely on social media, with many viewers noting the dramatic contrast between the bright, reddish Moon and the darkened sky. The images also serve as a reminder of the regularity of lunar cycles and the subtle ways in which the Earth’s atmosphere can alter the appearance of the Moon.

The August full Moon’s appearance as a partial lunar eclipse is a reminder that celestial events, while predictable, still offer moments of wonder. The combination of a full Moon, a partial lunar eclipse, and the seasonal naming tradition provides both scientific interest and cultural resonance for observers in the UK and beyond.