If you're wondering whether there's a full moon tonight, you're asking one of the internet's favorite astronomy questions. And August is an especially good month to ask. The upcoming sturgeon moon isn't just the next full moon on the calendar. It could arrive with an extra celestial bonus: a deep partial lunar eclipse that may paint part of the moon a rusty red, creating the blood moon effect that always gets skywatchers talking.

Whether you're planning a night of stargazing, moon photography or simply want to know what you're seeing overhead, here's what to know.

Not quite. The moon is currently in the waxing crescent portion of its monthly cycle after reaching its new moon phase on Aug. 12. That means the illuminated part of the moon will continue growing larger and brighter each night as it moves toward full illumination later this month.

Even though tonight's moon won't appear fully illuminated, skywatchers can expect increasingly brighter moonlight as August progresses.

August's full moon reaches peak illumination on Aug. 28, 2026.

The next full moon is the sturgeon moon, which reaches peak illumination at 12:18 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. Like most full moons, it will appear nearly full for a day or two before and after the official peak.

That means the moon should begin putting on an impressive show in the nights leading up to the month's biggest lunar event.

The traditional name for August's full moon is the sturgeon moon. It dates back generations and is commonly associated with the time of year when sturgeon fish were most plentiful in North American lakes and rivers. Like the harvest moon, wolf moon and buck moon, the sturgeon moon is one of several traditional full moon names that continue to be widely used today.

The name alone generates interest every August, but this year's sturgeon moon comes with another astronomical twist.

The Aug. 28 full moon coincides with a deep partial lunar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse, Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting part of its shadow across the lunar surface.

As sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere, the moon can appear reddish or copper-colored. That's where the term "blood moon" comes from. While this won't be a total lunar eclipse, astronomers say some observers may still notice a striking reddish tint depending on viewing conditions and location.

For many skywatchers, the eclipse may end up being just as noteworthy as the full moon itself.

A blood moon happens during a lunar eclipse when Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon. Instead, sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere and casts a reddish glow onto the lunar surface. The result can make the moon appear copper, rusty red or deep orange, creating one of the most striking sights in the night sky.

Skywatchers won't have to wait long. The next lunar eclipse arrives with August's full sturgeon moon on Aug. 28, 2026. The deep partial lunar eclipse could produce a blood moon effect, making it one of the most anticipated moon events of the year.

Tonight's moon phase is a waxing crescent.

The moon reached its new moon phase on Aug. 12 and will continue moving toward first quarter on Aug. 20 before ultimately becoming the full sturgeon moon on Aug. 28.

As a result, those watching the sky over the next couple of weeks will notice the moon appearing larger each evening.

August's major moon phases include:

Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Is there a full moon tonight? The next one could bring a rare 'Blood Moon' effect