Here's How Often The Sturgeon Moon Occurs In The Night Sky

You've probably heard a lot about the Sturgeon Moon, and that's because it reaches its peak fullness on Aug. 7, as August's full moon. But you've probably been wondering about its name, whether or not the Sturgeon Moon is rare, and why is everyone looking forward to it. Sorry to tell you, but the truth is, it's not that special.

OK, before you start to feel defensive over a moon, know that I say it with utmost respect — all I mean is that the Sturgeon Moon is just a basic full moon. Any full moon is special, and is a sight to see and appreciate, but the Sturgeon Moon doesn't hold any special powers and doesn't offer any kind of unique sky show. It's just a regular old full moon, and occurs once a year: every August. People are probably talking about it because it sounds a little bit more interesting than it actually is.

The Sturgeon Moon actually gets its name from the sturgeon fish. It was during August that the Native American tribes would go to the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain to go catch the fish, because it was at that time that they were most plentiful and easy to catch. That's really all there is to the name. It's no different than naming the moon after something that's indicative of August to you, like Rosé or Back To School Sales. If I were in charge, this moon would be called the Rosé Sale Moon.

You don't have to be disappointed to hear that the Sturgeon Moon is not rare. I still think that any full moon is a great excuse to get outside, spend some time where you're not looking at your phone or sucked into a TV show and just spending time being present. Rare or not, a full moon is beautiful and if it gets you to stop what you're doing and feel humble and grateful, than it is a special moon after all.

So find some time tonight go head outside and enjoy the view. It won't be the biggest moon you've ever seen and it won't be blue or pink or orange, but it might have a face and it might make you feel calm and centered. While the moon technically will reach its peak fullness during the day, you'll still get a good idea of its lunar stage at night, and it will look even more intense and grand in front of a pitch black sky. So before you go to bed for the night, step out side and take it all in. It's not a bad habit to establish with yourself — even if you only spend a few minutes each month admiring the moon and being present, it's time well spent.