You can glimpse the sky during the day and look for the moon. It may sound odd because one relates to a moon only when night fills the air. However, the moon is often brightened into sight outside of the day. This article explains Why Can We See the moon during the day and how it appears at various times in the sky.
The Moon is Always on the Sky
The most important factor in making viewing the moon during the day possible is that the moon is always present in the sky. Unlike the sun, which disappears at sunrise, the moon does not simply disappear. Instead, it moves with the same motion as the sun and travels across the sky. The moon revolves around the earth, and the time of day can place it in distinct locations in the sky.
Although the sun is much brighter than moonlight, it does reflect sunlight up there. So, when daylight is bright enough to be seen at these levels, it fails to outweigh the overwhelming light of sunshine in these settings. The sun’s light can turn the sky so bright that it can’t be seen, but the moon can be present when it’s right above or very near.
The Moon in Orbit Counterclockwise Around the Earth
It takes the moon about 28 days to orbit the Earth completely. The moon’s changing position in the sky indicates that it is orbiting. The moon does not stay in the same place every day; it shifts, making it visible at different times, including during the day. Its slow motion sometimes allows it to be seen by the naked eye during the day.
When the moon is far from the sun, we can see it: when it is half-full, at the quarters, and so on. Hence, it lies well away from the sun during certain phases and is perceptible, even in daylight. The moon is difficult to see in broad daylight because most people can hardly be aware of its presence. This is because sunlight burns so brightly and fills the sky that everything else, including the moon, is cast away. The sun outshines the moon so much that it becomes faintly visible in midday.
Why isn’t the Moon visible during daylight?
Yet the moon never disappears completely during daylight hours; it is overpowered by daylight. Suppose the moon is high enough in the sky during daylight hours when the sky is not too cloudy. In that case, daylight visibility is sometimes possible, especially during the half or quarter phases when the moon’s brightness is less than the sun’s. We mostly see a full moon at night since it is on the opposite side of the sun in the sky from us.
Moon Cycle Phases
The moon is usually observed in different phases during the month: the new moon phase, the first quarter, the full moon, and the last or third quarter. The moon’s change in position in the sky indicates which phase it is in at that moment. During different stages, the moon may be up in the sky during the day or visible only at night.
During new moon days, the moon is almost invisible between the Earth and the Sun. Sunlight shines onto the half of the moon facing away from the Earth, so we cannot see it. Conversely, in the first and last quarter phases, the moon is far enough from the sun to be seen during the day. In these phases, half of the moon appears illuminated, so daytime spotting is easy.
On nights of the full moon, the moon is opposite the sun in the sky; thus, it is usually viewed at night. However, the moon changes its position from one day to another.
The Moon and the Sun Have Different Positions
One of the reasons Why Can We See the Moon During the Day is because we know how this moon moves around the Earth. It takes the moon roughly 29.5 days to finalize one single orbit around the Earth; in the meantime, its position changes slightly. At certain times during the month, when the moon is in a position good enough, we see it shining brightly into the daytime skies. The sun is very bright, so it’s difficult to see the moon during the daytime. But, the moon completes an orbit well, right into the Earth. It does happen more easily to spot it in the daytime, mostly when this moon is quite far away from the sun in the sky.
Moon Visibility
We do not see the moon daily in the daytime because it is always in the sky. However, the moon’s position and sunlight can sometimes make it difficult to see. Sometimes, the moon is not in the right position to be visible during the day, and sometimes, sunlight is too bright to see the moon.
The best time to view the moon during the day is in the first or last quarters. During these phases, the moon has separated itself from the sun so much that it is very easy to see it during the day. However, if it is during the new moon or full moon phase, its position in the sky makes it more difficult to see during the day.
Fun Facts about How the Moon Looks During Daylight
The Moon is Always There: The moon is always somewhere in the sky, whether we see it or not. Its visibility depends on when and where it becomes visible in its orbit around the Earth.
The Moon’s Phases: The moon’s phases change every two or three days. The moon might become visible during the daytime or night, depending on its phase. Full moons are considered nighttime phenomena, but half-moon phases (first or third) are often visible in the daytime.
Look for the Moon on Clear Days: It is easier to spot the moon if it is sunny. If the sky is overcast or cloudy, it becomes harder.
Different Places, Different Views: where you are positioned on Earth and immensely contributes to moon sightings. In some areas of the world, the moon can be sighted during the day or sometime of the year, while in others, it is considered rare.
Conclusion
Thus, now you know the answer to Why Can We See the moon during the day because the moon is always there, present in the daytime, in the sky. It can be observed when it is at the right position and when sunlight is not too bright to shadow it. The orbiting nature of the moon around the Earth and its different phases make it possible to see it at various hours of the day. Thus, next time you notice the moon overhead through sunshine rays, you will know it is merely taking its usual course around the Earth- and not something magical, but just pure nature at its business!
