The Moon’s Shadowy Show
The moon changes shape because of how sunlight shines on it and how we see it from Earth. The moon doesn’t glow by itself; it reflects sunlight. As the moon goes around Earth, different parts of it catch the sunlight. Sometimes we see the whole lit-up side, and other times we see just a slice. This creates the phases like full moon, half moon, and crescent moon.
Why It Happens Over and Over
It takes about 29 days for the moon to go all the way around Earth. That’s why the moon’s shape seems to change every few nights. These phases are a regular cycle, and many calendars even follow the moon’s movement to mark months and holidays.
FAQs
Q: Is the moon changing size?
A: No. The moon stays the same size — it only looks different because of how the sunlight hits it.
Q: Can we see the same moon phases everywhere on Earth?
A: Yes, though people in the Southern Hemisphere see the shape flipped upside down compared to those in the Northern Hemisphere.
