How Does The Lunar Cycle: Moon Phases Explained Work?

The Moon changes shape in the sky because it orbits Earth, and we see different parts of it lit up by the Sun.

Imagine you're playing a game with your friend where you take turns holding a flashlight over a ball, that's like the Sun shining on the Moon. When you hold the flashlight close to your friend’s face (like when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun), we see almost no light, that’s a new moon. As the Moon moves around Earth, more of its lit side becomes visible, it looks bigger, like when your friend turns their head away from the flashlight, showing you more of the ball.

• When the whole lit part faces us, we see a full moon, like when your friend holds the ball so both sides are fully lit.
• In between, we see shapes, like a half-moon or a crescent moon, depending on how much of the Moon’s lit side is visible from Earth.

It’s just the Moon moving around Earth, and we get to see different parts of it lit up, no magic, just movement!