Question

Why can we not see the moon on the new moon day?

• A. Earth faces the non-illuminated part of the moon.
• B. There is no moon in the sky.
• C. The moon is on the other side of the Earth.
• D. The moon's size diminishes and it disappears.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Earth faces the non-illuminated part of the moon.

Moon does not have its own light. It gets its light from the Sun's rays that fall on it and are reflected towards the Earth. Thus, we can see only the illuminated part, (i.e., the part on which the rays fall) of the Moon. On a new moon day, the illuminated part of the moon faces the Sun whereas, the dark part, i.e., the non-illuminated part of the moon faces the Earth. Thus, we cannot see the moon.