When the Moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth, we are seeing a __________ moon.
Responses
A new
B full
C half
D crescent
When the Moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth, we are seeing a "new" moon.
To understand why, let's start by visualizing the arrangement of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during a new moon. In this scenario, the Earth resides in the middle, the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, and the Sun is on one side.
During a new moon, the side of the Moon that is illuminated by the Sun faces away from the Earth. As a result, from our perspective on Earth, we are unable to see any illuminated part of the Moon. This makes the Moon appear completely dark or invisible to us, indicating a "new" moon phase.
So, when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth, we observe a "new" moon.