Question

Why is the Moon not seen in the sky on a new moon day (Amavasya)?

Explain why the Moon shows phases. Describe the positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon on a new moon day, on a first quarter (half moon) day and on a full moon day.

Riya kept a Moon diary. The day after Amavasya she could not find the Moon, but from the next evening she sketched it just after sunset in the western sky. Her sketches for Day 2, Day 5 and Day 8 are shown in the figure. She noticed that each evening the Moon was a little higher in the sky at sunset than the evening before, and that its bright side always faced the direction of the setting Sun.