Why does the moon shine when it doesn't have any smooth surfaces like water to reflect off of? — Phillip of Lexington, NE

Dear Phillip,

Try this experiment. Place a rough tennis ball in a dark room and shine a light on it. You will be able to see it because it will reflect light. This shows that a surface does not have to be smooth to reflect light. The color of an object is the most important factor in light reflection. That's why we should wear light colored clothes at night when walking or riding a bike. They reflect more light than dark colored clothes.

The moon's soil is a dark gray color. The lowlands on the moon are darker in color than its mountain tops. Because of its color, the moon reflects only about ten percent of the light that the sun shines on it. It truly is the "lesser light" which rules the night (read Genesis 1:16).