The moon is not a light source, but a cosmic mirror
In short: The moon doesn't produce its own light. This video explains the physics of how our lunar neighbor reflects sunlight to illuminate the night sky.
The moon appears bright because its surface reflects rays from the sun. Nevertheless, the surface lacks high reflectivity, bouncing merely 3 to 12 per cent of incoming solar radiation.
The changing phases of the moon are a result of its specific orbit around the Earth, which alters how much of its illuminated side is visible to us from our perspective.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Why Does The Moon Shine?
- Also: Why Does the Moon Shine?
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