Followers of the lunar calendar were witness to a Sturgeon Moon rising over the South Shore, a blood-red spectacle intensified by the lingering smoke of Canadian wildfires. The sight of the moon glowing crimson against a summer sky was more than just a moment of beauty—it carried centuries of meaning and tradition.
The August full moon embodies a deep Native American heritage. Tribes who lived along the Great Lakes and Hudson River called it the Sturgeon Moon because the massive freshwater fish was most abundant during late summer. The sturgeon, sometimes called a “living fossil,” could grow to enormous size and provided a vital food source, especially through its celebrated caviar. For Native people, the full moon was a celestial signal of nature’s bounty and a reminder of the balance between sustenance and respect for the natural world.
Other Indigenous communities marked the August full moon. The Anishinaabe, Dakota, and Cree used moon cycles as calendars, each name reflecting the natural rhythms of hunting, gathering, and preparation for the colder seasons. In these cultures, the August moon was a marker of abundance and transition. European settlers also attached names to this lunar phase, often calling it the Grain Moon or Barley Moon, tied to the late-summer harvest. Across continents, the full moon was a reliable guide for planting, fishing, and spiritual observances.
The Sturgeon Moon is part of a long procession of named moons that track the changing year. September will bring the Harvest Moon, which rises closest to the autumn equinox and once gave farmers extra evening light to gather their crops. October’s Hunter’s Moon traditionally signaled the time to hunt game and store food for winter. November brings the Beaver Moon, marking when trappers should set their snares before the swamps froze. December closes the year with the Cold Moon, a stark reminder of the season’s long nights and frigid weather.
This year’s Sturgeon Moon was especially dramatic because of the ongoing wildfires in Canada. Millions of acres of forest have burned, sending plumes of smoke southward into the U.S. The fine particles in the atmosphere scatter blue light and allow longer red wavelengths to dominate, turning the moon into a glowing ember in the sky. For many on Long Island and beyond, the Sturgeon Moon became a blood moon, a symbol not only of natural cycles but also of the environmental crises unfolding in real time.
Astronomers note that while this August full moon was not technically a supermoon, its presence was no less commanding. The interplay of tradition, celestial timing, and atmospheric haze created a moment that felt both timeless and urgent—a reminder that fire hundreds of miles away could shape the way we see the night sky.
The next full moons will be the Corn or Harvest Moon on September 7, the Hunter’s Moon on October 6 (also a supermoon), the Beaver Moon on November 5 (another supermoon), and the Cold Moon on December 4, which will rise as the final supermoon of the year. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest orbital approach to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual in the night sky.