When is the August full moon? How to view in Oklahoma City

The August full moon arrives early Saturday morning, and for those up late enough, you can catch the Sturgeon Moon over the metro area.

The full moon will come when the temperature is dropping to the low 80s, making it a bit warmer viewing experience, even in the early morning hours.

But if you aren't able to stay up for its peak, there are still multiple chances to see it near the 100% full moon before it sets in the morning.

Here's what to know about this month's full moon.

When is the August 2025 full moon?

The August full moon will peak at 2:54 a.m. on Saturday, August 9.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the moon will rise at 8:57 p.m. Friday over the Oklahoma City metro area. It will be in the Southern sky and is planned to set at 6:55 a.m. on Saturday.

Related: A warm August is ahead for Oklahoma City. Here's what to know.

Space.com says the best time to look at a full moon is an "hour or two after it rises," as it can typically appear bigger than usual and, in some cases, appear reddish-orange.

What is the August 2025 full moon called?

The August 2025 full moon is called the Sturgeon moon. Full moon names are traditionally rooted in Native American culture or have Colonial American influences, according to the Farmer's Almanac.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the name sturgeon moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer and an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region.

Why is the moon red?

When the moon is low on the horizon, it often appears warmer, at times even turning solidly red or orange. This phenomenon happens daily, as it's the same process that makes our sky blue.

Low areas of the horizon have a substantially thicker atmosphere that the moon passes through before your eyes can see it, according to the BBC.

Light is a spectrum, starting with red and orange and ending with blue and violet hues. With this and the high-density atmosphere, the blue and violet hues tend to spread throughout the atmosphere, while red and orange linger.

This is because red light has longer wavelengths than violet light, which tends to be shorter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is the August full moon? How to view in Oklahoma City