The biggest and brightest full moon of 2024 so far will rise today (Aug. 19), but its unusual name needs explaining. Although August's full moon is typically called the "Sturgeon Moon," this month, it's also a "blue supermoon."
The Sturgeon Moon, at its fullest on Aug. 19 at 2:25 p.m. EDT, is called a blue moon because of an astronomical quirk. There are two types of blue moons: a monthly blue moon (the second full moon in a month) and a seasonal blue moon (the third of four full moons in the same astronomical season). Since the summer solstice on June 20, there have been full moons on June 22 and July 21. The Sturgeon Moon on Aug. 19 and the following full moon, the Harvest Moon, on Sept. 18 will occur before the equinox on Sept. 22.
