Which Moon phase rises and sets with the Sun?

Which Moon phase rises and sets with the Sun?

• A. First Quarter Moon
• B. Third Quarter Moon
• C. New Moon
• D. Full Moon

Answer: (C)

The Moon’s phase reflects where it sits relative to the Sun and Earth. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, the side facing us is dark and the Moon lies in roughly the same direction as the Sun in the sky. Because of that alignment, it rises around sunrise and sets around sunset, so it’s up during the day and usually not visible at night. This is the New Moon. By contrast, when the Moon is opposite the Sun, a Full Moon, it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, staying high through the night. The First Quarter and Last Quarter phases occur when the Moon is 90 degrees away from the Sun, so their rising and setting shift to roughly midday or midnight times, making them visible in the afternoon/evening or in the early morning, respectively.

The Moon’s phase reflects where it sits relative to the Sun and Earth. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, the side facing us is dark and the Moon lies in roughly the same direction as the Sun in the sky. Because of that alignment, it rises around sunrise and sets around sunset, so it’s up during the day and usually not visible at night. This is the New Moon.

By contrast, when the Moon is opposite the Sun, a Full Moon, it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, staying high through the night. The First Quarter and Last Quarter phases occur when the Moon is 90 degrees away from the Sun, so their rising and setting shift to roughly midday or midnight times, making them visible in the afternoon/evening or in the early morning, respectively.