On social media, many viewers are discussing why we can see the moon during the day, with many dark theories.
Have you ever noticed the Moon in the sky during the day? It’s not an everyday occurrence, but it happens from time to time. This can be surprising, especially since most of us associate the Moon with nighttime. The idea of the Moon in the daylight seems odd, yet there’s a scientific reason for it.
Why do we sometimes see the moon during the day?
Previously, on X platform, many discussed after Stew Peters shared an image of the Moon in the sky, writing: ‘This full Moon is out in the middle of the day. That’s not supposed to happen.’
The post sparked discussion about why the Moon is visible during the day. Many shared their knowledge to seek an answer, while some suggested it is a natural phenomenon.
One person said: Yep, the moon has been very strange lately.
A second wrote: Happens all the time. Has since my childhood .. im 62. You were today years old when you noticed.
While a third commented: I saw this a week ago and it’s not surprising.
Another added: Wow, primary school children understand that the moon can be seen during the day.
Someone else said: That’s not a full moon, you can see it’s obviously not a fully illuminated moon.
The Moon doesn’t only appear at night. In fact, it spends almost as much time visible during the day as it does at night. The key factor is its position in the sky. The Moon must be in the right location for us to spot it during daylight hours.
Planetary geologist and NASA scientist Sarah Noble explains that most people think the Moon is only visible at night due to portrayals in movies and books.
Even weather forecasters use the Sun as a symbol for the day and the Moon for night. However, the Moon’s visibility in the day is completely natural.
The Moon’s phases and its location
Several factors affect when we can see the Moon. The phase of the Moon plays a big role, as does its orbit around Earth.
The Moon rises and sets in a pattern depending on the phase. For instance, during a full Moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky, making it fully visible at night.
As Earth rotates, the Moon’s timing changes. Before a full Moon, the Moon rises in the east just before the Sun sets.
After the full Moon, you can spot the Moon in the western sky as it sets after the Sun rises.
How clear skies and seasons affect moon visibility
The weather also impacts our ability to see the Moon. On clear days, the Moon is easier to spot. On stormy or overcast days, even the Sun is hard to see, let alone the Moon.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the Moon in the daytime sky, you need to be quick.
Noble even turned daytime Moon-spotting into a personal challenge. She times her daily bike rides to spot the Moon, adjusting her schedule by around 50 minutes daily as the Moon moves through its phases.
The next time you spot the Moon during the day, don’t be surprised.
It’s a natural phenomenon that has been occurring for ages. Keep your eyes peeled and be ready to enjoy this celestial sight whenever it happens!