what causes the moon to look half or a quarter full?

Question

I was wondering, while I was looking out the window of the car, what causes the moon to look half or a quarter full? why does it not look like it's full all the time?

Answer 1

the earth gets in the way

Answer 2

From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon's appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part.

Answer 3

The earth shines a shadow from the sun onto the moon. The shadow is the darkness that we see.

Answer 4

Because the earth casts its shadow on the moon depending on their relative position to the sun.

Answer 5

Earth casts a shadow on the moon, sometimes.

Answer 6

The earth's shadow. when the shadow full covers the moon, it is called a lunar eclipse.

Answer 7

the "shape" of the moon is based on the phases of where and how it is directly reflected by the sun. The rounded cresent shape is a shadow that is cast by the earth.

Answer 8

the dark side of the moon does not reflct the suns light. so as the moon revolves more and more of that side is shown off, or visa versa.

Answer 9

the earth
it depends on our position on the globe - the other site can be in the way of our sight