Does the face on the moon always face earth or always face the sun?

Question

If we never see the "dark side of the moon", is that because it really is always dark, because the "face" side always faces the sun, or does it always face the earth?

Answer 1

The moon does rotate on an axis, just like the Earth. What's interesting is the Moon's rate of rotation is equivalent to it's orbital rate around the Earth. This is why we always see the same face of the Moon from Earth. But it is rotating.

By the way, this phenomena is not just a cosmic coincidence. The Moon is "Tidal Locked" by the Earth.

Answer 2

The moon's rotation is such that we only ever see one side of it. We see the sun reflecting off it in different phases depending on whether the side we can see is facing the sun (full moon), or whether the side we see is facing the earth (new moon).

As far as there being a dark side of the moon, as a matter of fact it's all dark :)

Answer 3

The "dark side" of the Moon is not always dark. It gets lit up just like the full-moon side does. It's called "dark" cause it always faces away from the Earth and is never seen by us. (although there is a little wobble)

Answer 4

the same part of the moon always faces the earth. so there is no dark side of the moon since the earth spins.

Answer 5

the face part always faces the earth. hence the moon phases, so no the "dark side" is not always dark, it's just that we never see it

Answer 6

it faces the earth----the far side of the moon is dark when its away from the earth and pointed away from the sun. So, sometimes its lit up. :)

Answer 7

the face side of the moon is always facing us its orbit around the earth and its on rotation coincide in such a way that it is always facing us. interesting huh?

Answer 8

Technically, the Earth.

It's geocentric - it shows the same face to us at all times. That means it can't to the Earth and the Sun at the same time...