Space for Kids
Lesson 2 of 3 6 min +40 XP

The Moon & Stars

Why the Moon changes and stars shine.

What you'll learn

  • Understand the moon & stars
  • Apply it to real examples
  • Check yourself with a quiz
The nightlight that changes

The Moon seems to change shape night by night, but it's just sunlight lighting up different amounts of it as it circles Earth. It never really changes — only the lit part we see does.

Reflected light

The Moon shines by reflecting the Sun's light; its phases are how much of the lit half we see. Stars, like the Sun, make their own light.

Knowledge Check

+10 XP / correct

1. What lights up the Moon?

2. A star is most like…