2006-09-22 23:43:03 · 15 answers · asked by Yahia M 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Moon, of course, rotates--at the same speed as it orbits the Earth. So, in the 27.32 days it takes the Moon to go around Earth, the Moon also spins about its axis one full revolution. That's why we always see the same face of the Moon.
2006-09-22 23:53:50 · answer #1 · answered by soulsurfer 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The moon is in synchronous rotation so we get to always see the same side of the moon. It's also precisely the right distance to cover the sun in an eclipse. At some point way in the future this will change (as the Moon is actually slowing the Earths rotation over time). In this distant future the moon will only be seen from some parts of the world and not others.
2006-09-23 16:44:25 · answer #2 · answered by emread2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is an easy answer to this. When the moon first started to orbit the Earth it was molten rock. This happened long ago in what was called the period of Heavy Bombardment. As it was molten, the Earth deformed the shape of the moon’s surface by gravitational attraction. So the moon is actually slightly egg shaped with the pointed end pointing towards the Earth. When the moon cooled, the rock solidified in this shape. So that is why the same side of the moon always faces towards us.
2006-09-23 16:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by Mike N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no the moon does not spin it is locked in orbit with the earth and keeps the same side showing at alltimes though the moon is slowly pulling away from the earth.
if you had a time machine and went forward 1 million years the moon would be much further away from us than it is now or if you went back a million years it would be much closer than it is
2006-09-24 07:43:31 · answer #4 · answered by ck12321212 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imagine 2 cogs interlocking. Mark a tooth on each cog to represent the earth and the moon, then turn one. The two marks move away from each other. As they make a full revolution the marks will be facing one another again, exactly in the position they started when you rotated the cogs.
2006-09-23 11:33:01 · answer #5 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people don't think about it, but the moon does spin.
It rotates once every 29 days or at the same rate it rotates around the Earth.
It always has the same side facing us.
It is a magnetic attraction/repulsion thing.
2006-09-23 06:54:37 · answer #6 · answered by Titus 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because its spin coincides with a 360° rotation.
Imagine yourself at the centre of a circle. if another person walks along the circumference you will always only see one side of them, although they spin around their own axis through a 360° spin.
Same with the moon.
2006-09-23 06:55:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yep..
It spins once every time it rotates around the earth so it always shows the same side to the earth...
2006-09-23 11:30:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it goes round the Earth at the same time, with a matching speed so only one side shows
2006-09-23 06:46:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The moon is tidally locked, so that it rotates on it's axis at the same rate as it rotates around the earth. We therefore always see the same side.
2006-09-23 06:46:08 · answer #10 · answered by SAN 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋