Final answer:
By mimicking the lunar phases with a small sphere and a bright light in a dark room, one can understand how different portions of the Moon are lit. Observing the Moon through binoculars or telescopes at different phases can provide detailed insights into its surface features, and thanks to libration, we can actually see more than half of the Moon's surface over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, you can hold your Moon sphere in the light and have it be more or less than half-lit by conducting a simple lunar phase experiment. Stand in a dark room with a bright light that represents the Sun, and with a small sphere such as a tennis ball representing the Moon. As you move the ball around your head, which represents Earth, you will witness the varying phases of the Moon, much like those visible in the night sky. During a crescent phase, not only the sunlit crescent is visible but also the faint outline of the entire lunar disk— a phenomenon caused by earthshine, which is sunlight reflected off Earth onto the Moon.
Looking at the Moon with binoculars or telescopes is safe, as the reflected sunlight is not bright enough to be harmful. The lit surface of the Moon is comparable in brightness to the Earth's landscapes bathed in sunlight, although it is less reflective overall. Observing the Moon at different phases, especially near the first or third quarters, provides detailed insights into topographic features due to the shadows cast by oblique sunlight.
Moreover, libration allows observers to see 59% of the Moon's surface over time, rather than just the 50% that is lit at any given moment. This gives astronomers the opportunity to view the Moon from slightly different angles, enhancing the study of its surface.