7
The question of why the moon shines at night is easy to explain. The answer has to do with the sun and how the two celestial bodies are positioned relative to each other over the course of a month.
Why the moon shines is related to the sun
When you look up at the clear, starry sky at night, you can see a magnificently shining moon depending on the phase of the moon.
- However, unlike the Sun, for example, the Moon does not shine on its own.
- Instead, just like the Earth, the Moon is illuminated by the Sun. The reflection of the Sun’s rays makes it appear as though the Moon is shining on its own.
- Even though it may seem that way at first glance, you never see the same portion of the Moon in the evening, since both the Moon and the Earth are rotating.
- It takes the Moon about 28 days to orbit the Earth. This period is reflected in the various phases of the Moon, during which you can see both the waning and waxing Moon.
- The Sun always illuminates the half of the Moon’s surface that is currently facing it. Thanks to the positions of the Sun and Moon relative to Earth, you can clearly see the different phases of the Moon here.
The Different Phases of the Moon
How clearly and in what form you can see the Moon in the night sky depends on the current phase of the Moon.
- During a full moon, you can see the Moon best in the sky because the side illuminated by the Sun is fully facing the Earth.
- From this point on, the Moon travels a little further around the Earth every night, so you can see less and less of it.
- The waning phase lasts about two weeks, until the Moon is no longer visible. Then it is a new moon.& nbsp;During this lunar phase, no sunlight falls on the side of the Moon that you can see from Earth. However, during this time, the Moon is sometimes visible in the sky during the day, though relatively faint.
- After two weeks, following the new moon, you can once again see the Moon as a magnificent full moon in the night sky.
