Sometimes, when the Moon is a thin crescent, you can still dimly make out the full disk of our satellite. What is the reason for this?
A) light reflecting from the Earth onto the Moon
B) light seeping through the mountains and valleys of the Moon
C) light from phosphorescent minerals on the Moon's surface, that store up sunlight and slowly emit it when it is dark
D) the Moon produces its own light the same way the Sun does
E) the Moon reflects light from either Mars or Venus, depending on which is closest to Earth
Section 9.2: The Lunar Surface

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is called Earthshine, where the Earth reflects sunlight onto the dark side of the Moon, making it visible as a dimly-lit disk.

Sometimes, When the Moon Is a Thin Crescent, You Can