By NASA
January 8, 2022
We consider the Moon as a nighttime object since its typically revealed that way to us in books and films. Even the weatherman utilizes the Sun as a symbol for day and the Moon for night. However the Moon really invests nearly as much time in the daytime sky as the night. You just need to look a little harder to see it.
Lets believe about why we can see the Moon at night at all. The exact same is true during the day, and unlike the stars which are also still up there throughout the day however we cant see them because the sky is too bright, the Moon really shines intense enough that you can see it day or night as long as its in the right part of the sky.
Throughout a moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky. Thats why we can see the complete face of the Moon reflecting sunlight. As the Earth turns, the Moon increases just as the Sun sets, but just on that one day of the month. In the days prior to a moon, if you look in the eastern sky, you can find the almost complete Moon rising before the sun sets. And the days after a complete Moon, you can look in the western sky and find the Moon setting after the Sun has actually turned up.
Over the last year, Ive in fact made a game of timing my daily bike trip to see if I can spot it in the daytime sky. It sets about 50 minutes later on each day as it marches through its stages.
Why can you see the Moon throughout the day? Easy, because its there! It may seem odd to search for at the daytime sky and see the Moon but its completely natural. Planetary geologist Sarah Noble breaks it down so you know when to search for.
The same is true during the day, and unlike the stars which are likewise still up there during the day however we cant see them because the sky is too brilliant, the Moon actually shines bright enough that you can see it day or night as long as its in the right part of the sky.
Throughout a full Moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky. In the days before a full Moon, if you look in the eastern sky, you can discover the nearly full Moon rising prior to the sun sets. And the days after a full Moon, you can look in the western sky and find the Moon setting after the Sun has actually come up.