<p>Let's look at what the difference is between day and night.</p>

<p>In the day time, the air that's between you and the Moon is in the sunlight, but at night, that air is in the dark.</p>

<p>Day or night though, the air is still transparent (you can see the Moon through it), and the light from the moon is mostly unaffected.</p>

<p>When it's in sunlight, the air scatters some of the sunlight in your direction. For the parts of the Moon that are bright, they are so bright that they look white. </p>

<p>But the dark parts of the moon don't look black to you on Earth because there's still the fainter blue-sky light scattered by the air.</p>

<h2>Moon during the day with bright blue sky light</h2>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eGbmu.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/eGbmu.jpg" alt="Moon during the day"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_day_(32148170671).jpg" rel="noreferrer">Source</a></p>

<h2>Moon at sunset with faint blue sky light mixed with Earthshine</h2>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4AHKh.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4AHKh.jpg" alt="Crescent Moon with blue sky"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheru:Crescent_Moon_(2558144570).jpg" rel="noreferrer">Source</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T13:14:33.300Z
2019-05-09T13:27:27.427Z
2019-05-09T13:27:27.427Z
uhoh
<p>Let's look at our solar system <a href="http://esc11.weebly.com/final-exam-review.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">from above</a>: </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PVrMN.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PVrMN.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>The night side of Earth is the hemisphere facing away from the Sun. The Moon orbits around the Earth, on a path that takes 28 days. So for half of that orbit (14 days, from Last Quarter to New Moon to First Quarter), the Moon is visible from the day side of the Earth. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:24:11.237Z
Although your graphic shows the moon in the night sky... :-)
Alexis Wilke
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:33:02.770Z
not any more ;)
Hobbes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T23:58:31.230Z
@Hobbes I've proposed that the question be reopened on the basis that the question asks for a simple, non-technical explanation and that can't be found at the other question. I see you've also taken the time to write a simple explanation, perhaps you could consider a re-open vote as well?
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T08:21:58.687Z
IMO it's pretty well covered by the accepted answer in the linked question. Mine just duplicates that.
Hobbes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:21:28.453Z
2019-05-09T17:32:53.457Z
2019-05-09T17:32:53.457Z
Hobbes
<p>If you turn your back to the sun and look at a building, the sun shines on the building and you can see it.  If the building is very far away but very big, you can still see it because the sun is still shining on it during the day.  If you think of the moon as a very large object very far away in the same direction as that building, you can see that the sun lights it up.  The only time the sun doesn't light it up is when the moon is on the side of the earth towards the sun.  Otherwise, the sun will always light up the moon.  You can see it because it's bright enough that the sun doesn't wash it out like it does the stars.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T16:51:25.423Z
2019-05-09T16:51:25.423Z
PJNoes
<p>Sometimes I observed there is moon on sky at noon and sun is also shining.</p>

<p>How is this possible?</p>

<p>I also observed dull moon is still on sky at 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM while sun is rising. My local time is UTC+5.</p>

<p>If possible, please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology if possible, thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T13:15:59.360Z
@SteveLinton I disagree! The OP has specifically asked *please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology*  An answer that starts with *The visual geometric albedo of the full moon is 12.5%, but much less at other phases.* and continues with *and since the intensity of light falls off as $\propto \frac{1}{r^{2}}$ ([inverse-square law)* doesn't really fulfill that, so it's not a good duplicate because it doesn't really answer the OP's question as asked.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T13:18:29.363Z
Are you wondering why the Moon is sometimes above the horizon at the same time as the Sub, or why it's bright enough to see?
Steve Linton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T13:19:44.533Z
@SteveLinton More about the technical definition of geometric albedo in [this answer](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/20803/7982). Have a look at my answer, if you feel that it better answers the OP's question than your linked duplicate, you can consider withdrawing the close vote. There are several users here that might be configured to auto-close anything that has one plausible close vote. In this case I don't think it helps.  **update:** too late, the insta-close has begun.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T13:29:49.720Z
@SteveLinton if you are trying to clarify the meaning of the question, how can you simultaneously vote to close as duplicate? That's putting the cart before the horse.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:36:44.267Z
This is like asking why you can see your book while you have a lamp on over your desk.   Think about it for a bit...
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T23:50:27.607Z
Title: **How..., simple explanation please!**, body: **If possible, please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology** Answers at the proposed duplicate simply do not address the question as asked. Readers looking forward to reading a **simple, non-technical explanation** will be directed to highly technical explanations. Closing as duplicate in this particular case is unhelpful.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T15:03:36.397Z
The moon is brighter than the sky. If you look carefully, sometimes you can see Venus too.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T23:13:13.433Z
@uhoh I appreciate your attempt to meet the OP's request for a simple explanation, but you seem to have overlooked our [Help Page](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) description: "The purpose of this site is to provide **expert level answers**" [my emphasis]. I'm voting to keep the question closed. Note also that it's SE policy that duplicate questions, along with any answers that were posted before the dupe was closed, are retained on the site as signposts to the preferred question and answers, so your answer hasn't been written in vain. :-)
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-11T00:00:08.373Z
@Chappo The implications of that line of reasoning are stark and chilling. Can you consider expanding on that here: [Are all questions asking for simple explanations really off-topic? Or should we rethink the site's "purpose" statement?](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/507/7982) Thanks!
uhoh
<the-sun><the-moon>
How moon is visible during sun is still shining, simple explanation please!
shoaib sabir
# How moon is visible during sun is still shining, simple explanation please!

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-09)

Sometimes I observed there is moon on sky at noon and sun is also shining.

How is this possible?

I also observed dull moon is still on sky at 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM while sun is rising. My local time is UTC+5.

If possible, please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology if possible, thanks!

**Tags:** the-sun, the-moon

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @username_2 I disagree! The OP has specifically asked *please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology*  An answer that starts with *The visual geometric albedo of the full moon is 12.5%, but much less at other phases.* and continues with *and since the intensity of light falls off as $\propto \frac{1}{r^{2}}$ ([inverse-square law)* doesn't really fulfill that, so it's not a good duplicate because it doesn't really answer the OP's question as asked.  
> **username_2**: Are you wondering why the Moon is sometimes above the horizon at the same time as the Sub, or why it's bright enough to see?  
> **username_1**: @username_2 More about the technical definition of geometric albedo in [this answer](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/20803/7982). Have a look at my answer, if you feel that it better answers the OP's question than your linked duplicate, you can consider withdrawing the close vote. There are several users here that might be configured to auto-close anything that has one plausible close vote. In this case I don't think it helps.  **update:** too late, the insta-close has begun.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 if you are trying to clarify the meaning of the question, how can you simultaneously vote to close as duplicate? That's putting the cart before the horse.  
> **username_3**: This is like asking why you can see your book while you have a lamp on over your desk.   Think about it for a bit...  
> **username_1**: Title: **How..., simple explanation please!**, body: **If possible, please explain it in simple words without using advanced astronomy terminology** Answers at the proposed duplicate simply do not address the question as asked. Readers looking forward to reading a **simple, non-technical explanation** will be directed to highly technical explanations. Closing as duplicate in this particular case is unhelpful.  
> **username_4**: The moon is brighter than the sky. If you look carefully, sometimes you can see Venus too.  
> **username_5**: @username_1 I appreciate your attempt to meet the OP's request for a simple explanation, but you seem to have overlooked our [Help Page](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) description: "The purpose of this site is to provide **expert level answers**" [my emphasis]. I'm voting to keep the question closed. Note also that it's SE policy that duplicate questions, along with any answers that were posted before the dupe was closed, are retained on the site as signposts to the preferred question and answers, so your answer hasn't been written in vain. :-)  
> **username_1**: @username_5 The implications of that line of reasoning are stark and chilling. Can you consider expanding on that here: [Are all questions asking for simple explanations really off-topic? Or should we rethink the site's "purpose" statement?](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/507/7982) Thanks!  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2019-05-09. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

If you turn your back to the sun and look at a building, the sun shines on the building and you can see it. If the building is very far away but very big, you can still see it because the sun is still shining on it during the day. If you think of the moon as a very large object very far away in the same direction as that building, you can see that the sun lights it up. The only time the sun doesn't light it up is when the moon is on the side of the earth towards the sun. Otherwise, the sun will always light up the moon. You can see it because it's bright enough that the sun doesn't wash it out like it does the stars.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-05-09. Score: 5

Let's look at what the difference is between day and night.

In the day time, the air that's between you and the Moon is in the sunlight, but at night, that air is in the dark.

Day or night though, the air is still transparent (you can see the Moon through it), and the light from the moon is mostly unaffected.

When it's in sunlight, the air scatters some of the sunlight in your direction. For the parts of the Moon that are bright, they are so bright that they look white.

But the dark parts of the moon don't look black to you on Earth because there's still the fainter blue-sky light scattered by the air.

## Moon during the day with bright blue sky light

[![Moon during the day](https://i.sstatic.net/eGbmu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/eGbmu.jpg)

[Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_day_(32148170671).jpg)

## Moon at sunset with faint blue sky light mixed with Earthshine

[![Crescent Moon with blue sky](https://i.sstatic.net/4AHKh.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/4AHKh.jpg)

[Source](https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheru:Crescent_Moon_(2558144570).jpg)


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2019-05-09. Score: 4

Let's look at our solar system [from above](http://esc11.weebly.com/final-exam-review.html):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PVrMN.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/PVrMN.png)

The night side of Earth is the hemisphere facing away from the Sun. The Moon orbits around the Earth, on a path that takes 28 days. So for half of that orbit (14 days, from Last Quarter to New Moon to First Quarter), the Moon is visible from the day side of the Earth.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Although your graphic shows the moon in the night sky... :-)  
> **username_6**: not any more ;)  
> **username_1**: @username_6 I've proposed that the question be reopened on the basis that the question asks for a simple, non-technical explanation and that can't be found at the other question. I see you've also taken the time to write a simple explanation, perhaps you could consider a re-open vote as well?  
> **username_6**: IMO it's pretty well covered by the accepted answer in the linked question. Mine just duplicates that.  

---

