• Question: why can we see the moon in the day

    Asked by adam7 to Arttu on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Arttu Rajantie

      Arttu Rajantie answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      The Moon orbits the Earth, so half of the time it is on the same side as the Sun. In that case, the Moon is visible during the day. Then also the bright side of the Moon is facing mostly away from us, so the Moon appears just as a thin crescent, and if it is close to the Sun it is hard to see. On the other hand, when it is on the opposite side to the Sun and therefore visible at night, it is full or mostly full and very easily visible against the backdrop of the black night sky.

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