You’ll soon be able to see the year’s most popular meteor shower over Illinois
A full “sturgeon” moon will peak soon over Illinois, and residents can also enjoy viewing the peak of a popular meteor shower not long after.
This month’s moon is referred to as the “sturgeon moon” because of the abundance of fish typically found in late summer, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Many moon names come from Indigenous cultures. The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
In addition to the sturgeon moon, August will bring the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which the American Meteor Society describes as “the most popular meteor shower” of the year.
The Perseids will peak overnight Tuesday, Aug. 12 into Wednesday, Aug. 13, the American Meteor Society reports. The Perseid meteor shower has been active since July 14 and will end Monday, Sept. 1. The waning gibbous moon is expected to reduce the shower’s visibility this year, so you might only be able to see the Perseid’s brightest meteors.
Here’s when to see this year’s sturgeon moon over Illinois, plus when to catch more full moons in 2025.
When will the sturgeon moon peak?
The sturgeon moon will peak at 2:55 a.m. Central Daylight Time Saturday, Aug. 9, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
AccuWeather’s forecast says the night of Aug. 9 will be clear in Belleville, with a low temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. The moon generally appears full the day before and after its peak illumination. For those planning to stargaze the night of Friday, Aug. 8 or Sunday, Aug. 10, you can expect mainly clear skies, AccuWeather reports.
The moon will rise in Belleville at 8:31 p.m. Aug. 9, according to online clock Time and Date.
When to see more full moons in 2025
After the sturgeon moon, stargazers will have four more opportunities to see a full moon this year. Here’s when to look, from Astronomy.com:
- Sunday, Sept. 7: Corn moon
- Monday, Oct. 6: Hunter’s moon (supermoon)
- Wednesday, Nov. 5: Beaver moon (supermoon)
- Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold moon (supermoon)
The St. Louis Astronomical Society will host a public telescope viewing event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 outside McDonnell Planetarium.
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