Why Does The Moon Shine?

There is no denying that moon is a pretty big deal. It's one of the first things we learn about in school.

And it has been a source of fascination for centuries. But did you know that the light coming from the moon is an illusion? That's right - the moon doesn't produce its own light.

Instead, it reflects sunlight.

Let's see how.

Is It Possible for Moon to Shine on Its Own?

For centuries, people have gazed up at the moon in wonder, asking themselves whether the moon can shine on its own. The answer, of course, is an absolute no!

The moon relies on the sun to reflect its light, and without the sun's rays, the moon would be nothing more than a dark rock orbiting the Earth. So next time you look up at the moon, remember that you see the sun's light reflected at you.

Orion astroview 90mm eq refractor planetary telescope

How Does The Moon Shine?

It is a question with a fascinating answer. The moon doesn't produce its own light but instead reflects sunlight. And while it might seem like the bright side of the moon always faces the Earth, that's not actually the case.

The moon rotates on its axis, just like the Earth does, meaning that both sides of the moon get sunlight at different times. As the sun hits other parts of the moon's surface, we see varying brightness levels.

When the sun is high in the sky, we see more light reflecting off the moon than when the sun is lower on the horizon. That's why a full moon looks brighter in the sky than a crescent moon.

So next time you see the moon, take a moment to appreciate the sunlight reflecting off its surface.