EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Why does our Moon’s shape change? Our Moon’s shape doesn’t really change-it only appears that way! The “amount” of Moon that we see as we look from Earth changes in a cycle that repeats about once a month (29.5 days). The relative positions of our Sun, Earth, and Moon, cause these changes.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Moon doesn’t emit (give off) light itself, the ‘moonlight’ we see is actually the Sun’s light reflected off the lunar surface. So, as the Moon orbits the Earth, the Sun lights up different parts of it, making it seem as if the Moon is changing shape.

Detailed explanation-3: -Although the Moon appears to change during the lunar month, it is always the same shape. What does change is how much of the Moon we see from Earth, due to light and shadow.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Moon isn’t actually changing shape-it’s just changing places, and that changes how much of it is lit up by the Sun. The Moon is in orbit around the Earth, meaning it’s constantly revolving around us. It completes one full revolution every 27 days; in fact, the word “month” comes from the same root as word Moon.

Detailed explanation-5: -The amount of Moon we see changes over the month-lunar phases-because the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun. Everything is moving. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon.