Månelyset skinner over observasjonsstedet.

Because Norwegian normally writes compound nouns as a single word.

Here, måne + lys becomes månelys = moonlight.
Then the definite ending is added: månelyset = the moonlight.

This is very common in Norwegian. English often uses two words where Norwegian uses one:

• moon light → månelys
• observation site → observasjonssted

So if an English speaker is tempted to split the word, Norwegian usually does not.

The ending -et is the definite article for many neuter singular nouns.

So:

• månelys = moonlight
• månelyset = the moonlight
• observasjonssted = observation site
• observasjonsstedet = the observation site

Unlike English, Norwegian often puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word before it.

Both månelys and observasjonssted are neuter nouns.

That matters because neuter nouns usually take:

• et in the indefinite singular
• -et in the definite singular

For example:

• et sted = a place
• stedet = the place

In compounds, the last part usually decides the gender.
So:

• månelys is neuter because lys is neuter
• observasjonssted is neuter because sted is neuter

A small nuance: månelys is often used like an uncountable noun, so learners may see månelys and månelyset more often than et månelys.

Because skinner is the present tense form of the verb å skinne = to shine.

So:

• å skinne = to shine
• skinner = shines / is shining

Norwegian verbs are easier than English in one important way: they do not change for person.

So you get:

• jeg skinner
• du skinner
• månelyset skinner

The verb form stays the same.

Here, over means something like over, above, or across the area.

In this sentence, it gives the idea that the moonlight is spreading or shining across the observation site. It does not have to mean a very strict geometric directly above sense. It is often broader and more natural than that.

So over observasjonsstedet suggests:

• the light is shining above it
• the light is falling across it
• the area is covered by moonlight

That s is a linking s used in compounds. In Norwegian grammar, it is often called a fuge-s.

The word is built like this:

• observasjon = observation
• sted = place/site
• observasjonssted = observation site

That s does not mean possession here. It is just a connecting sound that helps the compound sound natural.

English speakers sometimes think it works like apostrophe-s, but it does not in this case.

Yes. This is a completely normal Norwegian main clause:

Månelyset + skinner + over observasjonsstedet
subject + verb + prepositional phrase

This also fits the Norwegian V2 rule, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position in main clauses.

Because the subject comes first here, the verb naturally comes second:

• Månelyset skinner over observasjonsstedet.

If you move something else to the front, the verb still stays in second position:

• Over observasjonsstedet skinner månelyset.

That word order is also correct.

A few sounds may be unfamiliar to English speakers:

• å in måne-: roughly like the vowel in saw or British more, though exact pronunciation varies
• y in lyset: this sound does not exist in normal English; try saying ee while rounding your lips
• sk in skinner: before i, it is pronounced like sh

So very roughly:

• månelyset ≈ MOH-neh-lyu-seh(t)
• skinner ≈ SHIN-er
• observasjonsstedet ≈ ob-ser-va-SHOHNS-steh-deh(t)

These are only rough guides, but they can help you get close enough to be understood.