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Moonlight on a New Moon (illustration)
FILE No.154Unsolved

Moonlight on a New Moon

Difficulty ★☆☆about 5 minTheft CaseMonthsContradictions
A witness says, "On the night of the new moon, I saw his face clearly by moonlight."

Case Record

A burglary occurred in the dead of night. A witness who happened to pass nearby says, "It was a new moon that night. I saw the culprit's face clearly by moonlight."

Your question

How should this testimony be regarded?

Case Files

Diagram

The witness's statementItemDetailTimeLate at nightStatement"It was a new moon. By moonlight I clearly saw theface of the culprit."How should this statement be judged?
Diagram

Hints

If you get stuck, open the hints one at a time, in order.

Open hint 1

How does the moon look at the new moon?

Open hint 2

Is a new moon night bright or dark?

Open hint 3

Are "new moon" and "moonlight" compatible?

Solve It

Your question

How should this testimony be regarded?

Choose the answer closest to the truth.

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The Truth

A lie or a mistake. There is no moonlight on a new moon

The answer is "A lie or a mistake. There is no moonlight on a new moon."

At the new moon, the moon is in the same direction as the sun and cannot be seen in the night sky. "Moonlight on a new moon" is an impossible statement.

The moon never looks big at the new moon. There is no sunlight in the dead of night.

Sun, Moon and Earth at new moonEarthMoonSunSunlightThe unlit side faces EarthAt new moon the Moon lies in the Sun's direction and cannot be seenat night. "Moonlight at new moon" cannot be true.The statement is a lie or a mistake.
Diagram of the solution

Key Points

  • Knowledge of the phases of the moon
  • A contradiction within the testimony itself
  • New moon = a moon you cannot see

Why people get fooled

Because the concrete phrase "moonlight" sounds convincing.

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