本文介绍了月球的八种主要可见相位，以及它们是如何在月球绕地球公转的29.5天周期内形成的。文章指出，月相的变化是由于太阳、地球和月球之间角度的变化，导致月球被太阳照亮的部分从地球上看有所不同。我们总是看到月球的同一面，但其被照亮程度会随轨道位置而改变。文章还特别提到8月9日的满月被称为“鲟鱼月”，并建议在晴朗的夜晚观测月球表面的“云海”、“丰饶海”和“静海”。下一个满月将在9月7日出现。

🌕 **月相的成因与周期**：月相的形成源于月球绕地球公转的29.5天周期。在这个过程中，太阳、地球和月球三者之间的角度不断变化，导致从地球上看，月球被太阳照亮的部分也随之改变。我们永远只能看到月球的同一面，但其被照亮程度会因其在轨道上的位置而呈现出不同的月相，如满月、半月甚至不可见的新月。这是一个循环往复的过程。

🌟 **八种主要的月相**：月球的可见相位共有八种，它们按照顺序循环出现：新月（不可见）、峨眉月（右侧出现一小片光）、上弦月（右侧半月）、盈凸月（大部分被照亮但未全圆）、满月（整个月面被照亮）、亏凸月（右侧开始变暗）、下弦月（左侧半月）以及残月（左侧仅剩一弯细细的月牙）。

🐟 **“鲟鱼月”的由来**：文章特别提到8月9日的满月被称为“鲟鱼月”。这个名称来源于古代的渔猎部落，他们会在8月份大量捕捞到鲟鱼，因此以此来纪念这个丰收的月份。在晴朗的夜晚，通过肉眼就能清晰地观察到月球表面的几个著名区域，例如“云海”（Mare Vaporum）、“丰饶海”（Mare Fecunditatis）和“静海”（Mare Tranquillitatis）。

🗓️ **下一次满月预告**：对于天文爱好者来说，了解月相变化并进行观测是一件有趣的事情。文章告知，在8月9日的满月之后，下一个满月将会在9月7日出现。这为计划观测月球的用户提供了明确的时间指引。

The full moon is finally here, and if you're lucky enough to be graced with a cloudless night, there's a lot to see as we enter the next phase of the lunar cycle.

This is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 9?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Aug. 9, the moon phase is Full Moon, and it is 100% lit (NASA's Daily Moon Observation confirms this).

This month's full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, an ode to fishing tribes and the plentiful sturgeon fish that was caught in the month of August.

There's so much to be seen on the moon's surface tonight, but pay particular attention to the Mare Vaporum, the Mare Fecunditatis, and the Mare Tranquillitatis, all of which can be seen with the naked eye.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on September 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.