The moon is ALWAYS 50% (+/-) illuminated. Though we only see all of the half lit side when the moon is opposite the sun (Full Moon).
the moon
The general term for the visible lit part of the moon is "the phase of the moon." The visible lit portion can have a crescent shape, a gibbous shape or a "half-moon" (half circle) shape.
Phase 1 - New Moon - The side of the moon that is facing the Earth is not lit up by the sun. At this time the moon is not visible.Phase 2 - Waxing Crescent - A small part (less than 1/2) of the moon is lit up at this point. The part that is lit up is slowly getting bigger.Phase 3 - First Quarter - One half of the moon is lit up by the sun at this point. The part that is lit up is slowly getting bigger.Phase 4 - Waxing Gibbous - At this time half of the moon is lit up. The part that is lit is slowly getting bigger. Waxing means to slowly get bigger.Phase 5 - Full Moon - The side of the moon that is lit up by the sun is facing the Earth. The entire moon is lit up at this point.Phase 6 - Waning Gibbous - The moon is not quite lit up all the way by sunlight. The part of the moon this is lit is slowly getting smaller. Waning means to slowly get smaller.Phase 7 - Last Quarter - Half of the moon is lit up but the sun. The part that we can see lit up is slowly getting smaller.Phase 8 - Waning Crescent - A small part of the moon is lit up at this point. It is getting smaller by the minute.
The direction is is lit from. When the Moon is lit (by the Sun) from straight on it appears full, when it is lit from behind it appears new, and when it is lit from the side it looks like a semi-circle.
The amount of the moon that is always lit except during a lunar eclipse is about half. This is because half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun due to the moon's orbit around the Earth.
it depends what phase the moon is in search phases of the moon then you'll understand
Very slightly more than 50%.
In a gibbous moon phase, most of the moon that we see is lit.
Before the new moon, less of the moon is lit up when viewed from Earth.After the mew moon, more of the moon is lit up when viewed from Earth.
The percentage of the Moon that is lit by the Sun varies depending on its position in its orbit. At certain points, half of the Moon's surface may be illuminated (50%); this is known as a First or Third Quarter Moon. This occurs because we see different portions of the illuminated half from Earth as the Moon orbits.
the moon
The general term for the visible lit part of the moon is "the phase of the moon." The visible lit portion can have a crescent shape, a gibbous shape or a "half-moon" (half circle) shape.
Phase 1 - New Moon - The side of the moon that is facing the Earth is not lit up by the sun. At this time the moon is not visible.Phase 2 - Waxing Crescent - A small part (less than 1/2) of the moon is lit up at this point. The part that is lit up is slowly getting bigger.Phase 3 - First Quarter - One half of the moon is lit up by the sun at this point. The part that is lit up is slowly getting bigger.Phase 4 - Waxing Gibbous - At this time half of the moon is lit up. The part that is lit is slowly getting bigger. Waxing means to slowly get bigger.Phase 5 - Full Moon - The side of the moon that is lit up by the sun is facing the Earth. The entire moon is lit up at this point.Phase 6 - Waning Gibbous - The moon is not quite lit up all the way by sunlight. The part of the moon this is lit is slowly getting smaller. Waning means to slowly get smaller.Phase 7 - Last Quarter - Half of the moon is lit up but the sun. The part that we can see lit up is slowly getting smaller.Phase 8 - Waning Crescent - A small part of the moon is lit up at this point. It is getting smaller by the minute.
New Moon.
Half of the moon is always lit. Due to it's position in relation to the sun and the earth, we see a different moon every night.
crescent moon. when the lit part of the moon is to the left it is called Waning Crescent Moon and when the lit part of the moon is to the right it is called Waxing Crescent Moon
The direction is is lit from. When the Moon is lit (by the Sun) from straight on it appears full, when it is lit from behind it appears new, and when it is lit from the side it looks like a semi-circle.