In the mid-summer fishing season every year, the night sky shimmers brightly with a full moon known as the “Sturgeon Moon,” named after a folk legend of the Native Americans. The reason why the August full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon is due to the abundance of sturgeons, fish living at the bottom of the water, in the Great Lakes region, which has been a crucial food source for indigenous peoples for hundreds of years.
This year, the Sturgeon Full Moon will appear at 3:55 a.m. Eastern Time on August 9. This year’s Sturgeon Moon will also be accompanied by a magnificent astronomical spectacle worth marking on your calendar – a planetary alignment of six major planets.
Sturgeons are considered “living fossils,” as they have been a food source for indigenous peoples long before the construction of the Egyptian pyramids over four thousand years ago. The earliest settlers of Jamestown in 1607 also relied on sturgeons for sustenance. Sturgeons hold significance beyond being a food source, deeply rooted in the myths and spiritual beliefs of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous peoples and early European settlers used to name full moons according to the seasons, such as the “Hunter’s Moon” in October or the “Strawberry Moon” in June. The August full moon, named the Sturgeon Moon after this freshwater fish that symbolizes life, was common in the summer.
Lake sturgeons once thrived in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont, but their numbers have significantly decreased in these areas. They are the oldest and largest fish species in the Great Lakes, with some individuals living up to 150 years and reaching sizes as large as a compact car.
For indigenous peoples, sturgeons provide fresh meat for consumption or can be preserved by drying. Their bones can be made into tools such as needles, spearheads, and arrowheads; swim bladders can be used in making paint or glue for adornment or tent construction, and their skin can be crafted into bags and other items – leaving no part of the fish to waste.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, when the next Sturgeon Full Moon rises, it may appear red due to the haze caused by the summer heat and dryness. While the moon will be at its fullest on August 9, it will still appear full on the days before and after.
For viewers, this full moon will be accompanied by an extra special celestial event: a planetary alignment where six planets will be visible in the sky with the moon. The positioning of the Sturgeon Moon among the constellations varies each year; this year, it will be located in the Capricorn constellation. So, by looking west before sunrise, you will see it within Capricorn, with the moon and the six planets lining up in a somewhat uneven formation on the southern horizon.
To the left of the moon, Saturn will appear in the Pisces constellation. Shortly after, the distance between Saturn and the moon will shrink to about 3 degrees, almost forming a conjunction.
Slightly higher than Saturn, Neptune will be faint and difficult to see with the naked eye, but can be observed with a telescope. A few degrees to the left of these two planets, Uranus will also be challenging to observe without optical aid.
Looking eastward, Venus and Jupiter will be closely aligned, shining in the Gemini constellation; by August 12, they will form a conjunction, with their separation being less than a degree.
Further east, Mercury will be low on the horizon, on the opposite end.
It is important to note that while this phenomenon is referred to as a “planetary alignment,” the planets do not need to be perfectly aligned in a straight line. Achieving a perfect straight-line alignment in three-dimensional space is almost impossible, given the infinite viewing angles and the inclined orbits of planets themselves.
Therefore, a “planetary alignment” is defined as several planets appearing clustered in a small area of the sky, or from an overhead view, all planets being on the same side of the sun. It is not a precise scientific term but a result of practical observation – we notice it with our naked eyes and assign meaning to it for various reasons.
As for the full moon, it has countless other names, reflecting the diversity of indigenous cultures. The commonality lies in their connection to the seasons. For example, in August, when waterfowl molt, the Passamaquoddy tribe in the Northeast calls it the “Geese Shedding Feathers Moon,” while the Cree tribes in eastern and central Canada refer to it as the “Young Ducks Begin to Fly Moon.”
Summer also marks the time of harvest, so other tribes name the August full moon the “Corn Moon,” “Rice Moon,” or “Black Cherry Moon.”
In other cultures around the world, full moons are named based on the seasons, which is a universal human experience. The Anglo-Saxons call the August full moon the “Grain Moon,” while the Chinese refer to it as the “Harvest Moon.”
In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite, leading to different names for the full moon in August – known as the “Snow Moon,” “Hunger Moon,” or “Wolf Moon.”
In conclusion:
The night sky on August 9 next month will not only feature the red-hued Sturgeon Moon – this full moon will be accompanied by the presence of six planets, offering a breathtaking cosmic feast for all to enjoy.
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