it's said that the moon is round and spherical like globe and it spins around earth and also by itself just like rotation. if it rotates and revolutes round the earth all the time, how is the black spot which i noted seen from many countries the same way? i believe it doesn't really spin...
2006-09-06 02:48:07 · 4 answers · asked by Seungyong W 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Great observation.
The moon does spin, but it spins at just the exact rate at which it revolves around us. Therefore, we always see the same side of the moon. The interesting thing is there's half the moon we never saw until the 1960's when we circled it with Apollo. Hence the name for Pink Floyd's album, Dark Side of The Moon.
2006-09-06 02:58:36 · answer #1 · answered by Edward T 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its rotation and revolution are synchronized by tidal forces. Try this. Hold an object in your hand at arms length and turn yourself around. You always see the same side of the object in your hand. But a person standing next to you does not, or at least not always. He see the same side of the object as you do when you are facing away from him and he sees the other side of it when you are facing toward him. To him, the object in your hand is turning just like you are. So the Moon, as seen from the Earth, is not turning, but as seen from the Sun or stars, it is turning.
2006-09-06 12:04:38 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the spin of the moon, spin of the earth, and orbit around the sun are in perfect alignment, we only see one side. As we rotate on earth, the moon rotates too; and with the distance to the moon and the relative speeds of both planets, its perfect to where we only see one side of the moon.
2006-09-06 10:18:42 · answer #3 · answered by Ron B. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
we only see the same side of the moon always.
2006-09-06 09:49:10 · answer #4 · answered by A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋