Why the moon looks different at different times?
How much light from the sun is covered by the earth.
The moon revolves around the earth.
When it is between the earth and the sun, all we see is the side that is in shadow. That is "new moon"
As it moves around so it is perpendicular to a line between earth and sun, we see the half that is lit.
When it is behind the earth, the sun lights up the whole side we are looking at, full moon (unless it is EXACTLY behind the earth which is an eclipse).
Thanks Doctor and Damon for your help
The appearance of the Moon changes over time due to its different phases. The Moon has no light of its own but reflects sunlight, allowing us to see it. As the Moon orbits around the Earth, the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon cause different portions of the Moon to be illuminated, resulting in different phases.
To understand why the Moon looks different at different times, you can follow these steps:
1. Learn about the Moon's phases: The Moon goes through eight different phases. The New Moon phase occurs when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, causing the side facing the Earth to be dark. As the Moon moves in its orbit, more of its illuminated side becomes visible, leading to phases like Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent. Understanding these phases is essential to understand why the Moon appears different.
2. Understand the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon: During the New Moon phase, the Moon is located between the Sun and Earth. As the Moon orbits around the Earth, the angle between the Earth, Moon, and Sun changes. This angle determines how much of the Moon's illuminated side is facing towards the Earth, and thus, how much of the Moon we can see.
3. Visualize the phases: You can use models or illustrations to visualize the different phases of the Moon and understand why it appears to change shape. For example, when the Moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase, a small sliver of its illuminated side is visible. As it progresses to the Waxing Gibbous phase, more of the Moon becomes visible until it becomes a Full Moon, where the entire illuminated side is visible.
4. Observe the Moon: Take the opportunity to look at the Moon during different times, preferably on clear nights, and note its appearance. Observations over time will allow you to see how the Moon's shape and illumination change.
By understanding the Moon's phases and its orbit around the Earth, you'll be able to explain why the Moon looks different at different times.