SUNLIGHT, THE MOON, AND REFLECTION The Moon does not shine on its own, it reflects the light of the Sun. When sunlight strikes the Moon’s surface, it bounces back toward Earth at different angles, depending on the Moon’s position in its orbit. This simple reflection explains why we see different phases of the Moon, from crescent to full. It’s a beautiful reminder of how light, angles, and cosmic motion work together to shape what we observe in the night sky. Follow Geomark Geoscience Education f