Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

What determines how much of the moon you see each clear night?

  1. Where the earth is in its orbit around the sun

  2. Where the moon is in its orbit around the earth

  3. The amount of light the moon gives off

  4. The amount of light the sun gives off
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The moon's phases depend on its orbital position relative to Earth and Sun. As the moon orbits Earth, the angle between Earth, moon, and Sun changes, altering how much of the moon's illuminated half we can see from Earth. The moon's position in its 27.3-day orbit determines whether we see a crescent, quarter, gibbous, or full moon.

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