Skywatchers in Ireland can look forward to a double celestial treat this August, with the arrival of the full “Sturgeon Moon” on Saturday, August 9, just days before the peak of the spectacular Perseid meteor shower.

The full moon will rise over Ireland at approximately 8:54 AM, and—weather permitting—will be visible in the early morning sky. Known traditionally as the Sturgeon Moon, this August full moon takes its name from Native American tribes who noted that sturgeon, a large freshwater fish, were most easily caught at this time of year in North American lakes.

While August’s full moon isn’t a so-called “supermoon,” it will still be a striking sight. In terms of distance, the Sturgeon Moon will be farther from Earth than some of the year’s other full moons, including July’s, which was closer and appeared slightly larger in the sky.

The timing of this full moon also sets the stage for one of the most beloved meteor showers of the year: the Perseids. Active from early August through August 24, the Perseid shower is expected to peak on the night of August 12 into the early hours of August 13, when observers in dark areas may see up to 100 meteors per hour streaking across the sky.

The Perseids are famed for their bright, fast-moving meteors, many leaving persistent trails. They originate from Comet Swift–Tuttle, and appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeastern sky.

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