Moon is illuminated by the sun. But how?

Question

i've been taught that the earth is between the moon and the sun. and the moon does not produce light by itself, but rather, the sun illuminates it.

but if the earth is inbetween, then isn't the sun suppose to cast a on the moon instead of lighting it up?

and let's say if what i thought was wrong, the moon isn't directly opposite and therefore the sun can light up the moon, then isn't it so that there will be a certain part on earth that cannot see the presence of the sun or moon at certain time at all? and if that's so, then which part is it?

Answer 1

The Moon orbits around the Earth. Sometimes it is between the Earth and the Sun, but sometimes it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. At other times, the Moon is off at an angle.

Even when the Moon is "between" the Earth and Sun or on the "opposite" side, it's not all in a straight line. The Moon's orbit is inclined relative to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. On the rare occasions that the three bodies do form a straight line, we get eclipses. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and Sun, while a lunar eclipse is when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and Moon.

Phases of the moon are not caused by Earth's shadow, but rather by the fact that the motion of the Moon causes a cycle in which parts of the Moon are lit by the Sun at the same time that we can see it from Earth. When the Moon is on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, the lit (day) side of the Moon faces completely away, towards the Sun. When the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, the lit side still faces the Sun, but that means it's also facing us. The only time the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon is during a lunar eclipse (see above).

The night side of the Earth cannot see the Sun. The Moon is only visible from half of the planet at any given time (whichever half is closest to its position on either side), but is seen by everyone over the course of 24 hours. The Moon orbits far enough from Earth that everyone can see it every day, except for when it is a new moon and the lit side faces completely away. If it orbited closer to the surface and in the planet's equatorial plane, like Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos, it would be impossible to see from polar regions.

Answer 2

Zorro1701e gave an incorrect answer. Though that answer is a common misconception. If that answer were correct then every 30 days the "new moon" would mean a "total solar eclipse" Furthermore; there could never be a such thing as a full moon because that geometry would produce all "total lunar eclipses" and obviously neither of these things is true.

The angle of the earth-moon orbit intersects the earth-sun orbit at approx a 5 degree angle. It is all a matter of geometry. The shape of the lighted portion of the moon IS NOT the shadow of the earth, rather it is the result of the geometry of the 3 body system. There are dozens of websites that show you the answer, I've listed one of them below.

Answer 3

For ur information u know that sun is very near to earth.and in the case of moon The moon is a natural satelite of earth so its rounding the earth continously u know that moon is smaller than earth so when the sun which is bigger than moon provides light its light get in touch with moon we cant see moon on that days when moon is between the earth. And when the earth come between the sun and moon the light frm the sun falls on some part of moon because its path is just like floated egg. we can see half moon curve moon etc according to its position. And when moon reaches on the upper position of earth we saw full moon.

Answer 4

You forget the moon rotates around the earth, so it's always moving. And the earth and the moon also rotate around the sun. The moon is about 250,000 miles away from us and much smaller than the earth is. So during certain parts of the day, we can't see the moon at all.

Answer 5

Are you sure it isn't? Did you measure it? It can appear very deceiving if you just try to judge it by eye. A lot of astronomical phenomena are like that. For example I have been fooled into thinking a star or planet was nearly at the zenith, but when checking it's true position with star charting software I found it was only about 60 degrees in altitude!

Answer 6

the earth rotates around the sun, the moon around the earth, the shape of the moon would show how much of earths shadow the moon is in, thats right, when its a crescent moon, a big space dog did not bite it, thats our shadow. If you still dont get it look up the moon, or send me a message and i will try to explain this in one syllable words.

Answer 7

Don't let the sharp answers discourage you...I have learned a lot on this site. When I am afraid a question might be too basic, I sometimes check wikipedia to see if they can clarify it for me...and if I ask a question that later seems a little too simple, I just delete it.

Answer 8

Suns' light is reflected off the moon and we see it.
You need to read some books. Your question shows that you are unaware of even the most basic things about our solar system.