Cool Moon Facts by Whip

Real astronomy, with sources. Folklore & tradition.

Fact #007 Observing

A full moon isn't twice as bright as a half moon. It's about ten times brighter.

Two things pile up at full. Half the visible disc is lit at first quarter, but it's lit at a slant, so every crater throws a shadow. At full, the Sun is directly behind us, the shadows vanish behind the rocks casting them, and the soil bounces light straight back. Astronomers call that last effect the opposition surge.

Source: NASA Moon facts (opens in a new tab) · checked Aug 2026

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