By Marcus Schneck .  The Full Green Corn Moon of August, also known as the Full Sturgeon Moon, will peak at 8:29 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. That means the best periods for viewing the full moon this month will be the night before, Wednesday into early Thursday morning, or the night after peak on Thursday.

Various Native American peoples knew the full moon of August as the Full Green Corn Moon because it occurred as the corn in their fields was fully grown but not yet ready for harvest, as the Full Sturgeon Moon because it occurred at the time of the year when the huge fish were available for harvest in large numbers and as the Full Grain Moon because it occurred as the annual harvest of wild grains was beginning.

The Native American names for each of the 12 full moons of the year hold less significance for modern humans, who are relatively removed from the need to harvest their own food and a method for keeping track of the natural cycle of seasons.

The next full moon will peak at 12:33 a.m. Sept. 14, a little more than a week before the first day of fall. Between now and then, the moon will pass through its last-quarter stage on Aug. 23, new moon on Aug. 30 and first quarter on Sept. 6.