What appears to happen to the moon as it goes through its cycles?

The moon appears to change shape or get lighter and darker as it passes through its cyclic monthly phases. However, the moon does not actually produce any light of its own or ever change shape. The moon appears light because it reflects light from the sun. The moon appears to be lighter or darker at different times of the month because of the relative positions of the moon, sun, and Earth. The moon orbits, or revolves, around the Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, it reflects different amounts of light due to the angle at which it receives sunlight. For example, a “new moon” is when the moon appears completely dark. During a new moon, the moon is between the earth and the sun. Therefore, during a new moon, the side of the moon that is facing the Earth does not reflect any sunlight. Waning is a term that is used to describe the moon’s reflected light decreasing. Waxing is the term used to describe when the moon’s reflected light increases.

The moon chart displays each of the moon’s monthly phases. This diagram also depicts the relative positions of the moon, sun, and Earth during each phase of the moon.