Question

Deshawn made two diagrams to show the Moon in the same position at different times of the year. In his diagrams, he included views from above (top view) and views from Earth. He says that some of the time the Moon looks bright from Earth, as shown in Diagram A, but other times the Moon looks completely dark from Earth, as shown in Diagram B. Is Deshawn correct? If he is correct, explain why light on the Moon changes in this way. If he is incorrect, explain how light on the Moon should look in each of his diagrams

Answer 1

Deshawn is incorrect in saying that the Moon looks completely dark from Earth at times. Even during a new moon phase, Earthshine allows us to see a faint outline of the Moon.

While the Moon's phases change throughout the month, it is never completely dark from Earth. Even during a new moon phase, when the side facing Earth is not illuminated by the Sun, we can still see a faint glow due to Earthshine. Earthshine is sunlight that has reflected off Earth and then illuminated the dark part of the Moon.

For Diagram A: The top view is Correct. The Earth view is Correct, except that the dark part of the Moon should be faintly illuminated by Earthshine.

For Diagram B, the top view is Correct. The Earth view is incorrect. The Moon should be visible as a faint, almost invisible crescent due to Earthshine.