Question

Without telescopes or other aid, we can look up and see the Moon in the night sky because it:________. a. emits thermal radiation. b. reflects visible light. c. emits visible light. d. glows through radioactive decay. e. reflects infrared light.

Answer 1

b. reflects visible light.

The surface of the moon reflects the sunlight it receives and that is why we perceive it at night. Although it seems very bright, especially during the full moon, its albedo is between 3% and 12%, that is, the percentage of radiation reflected by its surface with respect to the total solar radiation that falls on it.