Half of the moon is always lit by the sun except during a lunar eclipse. This is true no matter what phase the moon is in.
Half of the Moon, just like Earth and the other planets, is more or less illuminated all the time. The half that is illuminated is the half that faces the Sun. The illuminated half continually changes as the Moon orbits and revolves. The exception is when the Earth gets between the Moon and the Sun, shading the Moon. (an eclipse).
50%
The moon's surface is always half illuminated. We on Earth see 0 to 100% illumination of the side that faces use, depending on what phase the moon is at. Quarter phases, first and last, are half illuminated when seen from Earth.
Approximately half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun, but the amount of illuminated surface visible from Earth varies throughout the month due to the moon's orbit. This is what causes the phases of the moon.
When you observe a crescent moon it is because only that crescent portion of the moon is illuminated by the sun from your particular perspective, here on Earth. If we were looking at the moon from a different angle in space, we would see different parts of the moon illuminated by the sun.
Half of the Moon, just like Earth and the other planets, is more or less illuminated all the time. The half that is illuminated is the half that faces the Sun. The illuminated half continually changes as the Moon orbits and revolves. The exception is when the Earth gets between the Moon and the Sun, shading the Moon. (an eclipse).
50%
Half of the moon is always lit by the sun, unless the sun is eclipsed by the Earth. The portion of the illuminated moon viewed from Earth depends on the moon's orbit. As the moon orbits, different portions of shadow and illumination are seen from Earth, creating the moon's phases.
The moon's surface is always half illuminated. We on Earth see 0 to 100% illumination of the side that faces use, depending on what phase the moon is at. Quarter phases, first and last, are half illuminated when seen from Earth.
Approximately half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun, but the amount of illuminated surface visible from Earth varies throughout the month due to the moon's orbit. This is what causes the phases of the moon.
The phases of the moon are determined by its position relative to the Earth and the Sun. Even though half of the moon is always dark, we do not always experience a new moon because the angle at which we see the illuminated portion of the moon changes as it orbits the Earth. This causes different portions of the illuminated side to be visible from Earth, resulting in the various phases of the moon.
When you observe a crescent moon it is because only that crescent portion of the moon is illuminated by the sun from your particular perspective, here on Earth. If we were looking at the moon from a different angle in space, we would see different parts of the moon illuminated by the sun.
The moon is still there it just appears as it is gone because the portion of it that is illuminated by the sun is facing away from us.
The size of the illuminated portion of a planet or moon can vary depending on its position relative to the light source, typically the sun. The illuminated portion represents the side facing the light source, while the unilluminated portion is in shadow. This distribution of light and shadow creates phases for the object, such as the lunar phases of the Moon.
The moon is always 50% illuminated by the sun ... (just as Earth is).But as the moon revolves through various positions in its orbit around Earth,the portion of that 50% that's visible from where we are changes continuously.
The side of the moon that is illuminated is always the side that is facing the sun. Whether you perceive that as facing east or west depends on the phase of the moon and the time of day that you observe it. If the moon is in its first quarter and you observe it in the evening, the side that faces west (toward the setting sun) is illuminated. If the moon is in its third quarter and you observe it in the morning, the side that faces east (toward the rising sun) is illuminated.
Half (50 percent) of the moon is illuminated by the sun at all times, just as half of earth is always illuminated.The thing that changes is: How much of the moon's illuminated half can we see from earth ?