The+Lunar+Month

The lunar month and phases of the moon

Sunlight approaches the Earth-moon system. Sunlight will shine on the side of the Earth (or moon) that faces the sun. We call this day on the side of the Earth that faces the sun, and night on the side of the Earth that does not face the sun. Keep in mind that sunlight will illuminate the side of an object that faces it! The moon shines by reflected sunlight. As the moon orbits Earth, sunlight "shines" on different parts of the moon on the side of the moon that we can see.