What is Moon's phases?

The Moon goes through different shapes that we call phases, just like how a cookie changes when you bite into it.

Imagine the Moon is like a light bulb hanging in the sky, and Earth is like you sitting in a dark room. When the Moon is fully lit from the Sun's side, we see it as a full circle, that’s the full moon. But as the Moon moves around Earth, sometimes only part of that light reaches us.

Think about when your friend holds up a flashlight between you and the wall. If they move the flashlight sideways, the shadow on the wall changes shape. That’s like what happens with the phases of the Moon, we see different amounts of its lit side depending on where it is in its path around Earth.

The Moon orbits Earth every month, and as it moves, the amount of light we see changes too. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, we can’t see any of its lit side, that’s a new moon. As it moves away from the Sun, more of its face becomes visible to us.

So next time you look up at the sky, remember: the Moon isn't changing shape on purpose, it's just moving in space like a friend holding up a flashlight and walking around you!