It's not entirely incorrect to describe the moon as luminous, but it's more accurate to call it reflective. Here's why:

* Luminous objects produce their own light. Stars, for example, are luminous because they generate light through nuclear fusion.

* Reflective objects simply reflect light from another source. The moon doesn't produce its own light; it reflects sunlight.

While the moon appears bright in the night sky, it's only because it's reflecting the sun's light. So, while "luminous" might seem fitting because of the moon's brightness, it's technically a misnomer.