• Question: Why is it that on a night when it is mostly cloudy the stars are often visible while the Moon (even when full) is not?

    Asked by becky1997 to Katy, Nathalie, Paula on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Nathalie Pettorelli

      Nathalie Pettorelli answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Hi becky1997,

      I never noticed that – I generally struggle to see the stars, especially in London! Do you refer to moments where some stars are low in the horizon while the moon is relatively high?

    • Photo: Katy Mee

      Katy Mee answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      The reason that we see any of them at all is because the sun’s light is reflected off them and the nearer they are to the sun the brighter they are. Therefore, the stars that you see so brightly are nearer to the sun than the moon and hence can be seen through some clouds….

    • Photo: Paula Salgado

      Paula Salgado answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Well, there are stars all over the night sky, but the Moon covers only a small percentage of it. So in a cloudy night, clouds might cover the bit of sky where the Moon is, but only a small clear area will still allow you to see some stars.

      Hope that clears it 😉

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