The photo of the Full Sturgeon Moon above was taken by viewer Ralph Fato last August. Since the Full Moon happens on the first day of the month, there will be another Full Moon by the end of the month. Whenever there are two Full Moons in the same month, the second one is referred to as a Blue Moon. The next Full Moon happens Friday, August 31, at 9:58 a.m. EDT.
So, how did the August Full Moon get its name? The fishing tribes are given credit for naming it, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.
Thunder and lightning are quite frequent with Summer storms in August. So, this month’s full Moon also goes by the name of the Lightning Moon for the Summer thunderstorms. Other names given to the Moon in August are the Red Moon and the Dog Moon.
Full Moon names date back to the days of the Native Americans, in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.
Pack the umbrella before heading off to work or camp this morning. A front will approach from the West, bringing a threat of showers and thunderstorms, but not everybody will get wet. Today's highs will reach close to 80 degrees. The heat and humidity build tomorrow through the upcoming weekend with daytime highs well into the 80s and nighttime lows in the lower 70s.
Paul
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