Sturgeon Moon gets its name from North America's largest fish. The sturgeon fish, found in the Great Lakes in North America, can grow over two metres long and weigh about 200 pounds.
A supermoon occurs when the full moon's orbit brings it closer to the Earth. The full sturgeon moon will be 222,158 miles (357,530 kilometres) away from Earth, in contrast to the usual average distance of 238,000 miles (382,900 kilometres).
The Sturgeon Moon will reach peak illumination at 2:32 PM ET on August 1, which is 12:02 AM IST on August 2 in India.
The first supermoon of the year, Full Buck Moon, graced the skies in July. Sturgeon will be the second supermoon of 2023 but the first supermoon of August.
The last two full supermoons in one month appeared in August 2018. The celestial event is unique because it will not happen again until 2037.
The Sturgeon Moon also serves as a reminder of the crucial role it played in the lives of our ancestors, guiding them through the cycles of nature and the passing of time.
Other names of the Sturgeon Moon are Grain Moon, Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, and Lynx Moon.
In India, the visibility of the Sturgeon Moon depends on the weather conditions around midnight. Moving away from the city lights and using binoculars or backyard telescopes can help you get the best look at the full moon.