Is it true we always see the same side of the moon ?

Answer 1

look at this animated gif:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051113.html

the moon rotates with the same period that it revolves around the earth. the moon does not have a constant speed however. the speed is a little faster when it is closest and a little slower when it is farther away. of course, the moon looks a little bigger when it is closer and a little smaller when it is farther away. the changing orbital speed lets us see small parts of the moon that we could not see otherwise. the moon wobbles a little from side to side because of this changing speed.

Answer 2

We actually see about 59% of the moon. That's because, while the moon revolves about the earth it's rotational speed doesn't vary, but as it comes closer to the earth in it's slightly oblong orbit it's orbital velocity speeds up, allowing us to see a bit more of one side of it's sphere, and as it moves away from earth it slows down and lets us see a bit more of the other side. Also, because the orbital path of the moon doesn't coincide with the equator of the earth, we see a bit more of the northern hemisphere during one part of it's orbit, and a bit more of the southern hemisphere during the other part of it's orbit. All told, those four factors add 9% to what we can see from earth. I often wonder, too, what would happen if we put a very large rocket motor on the moon and sped it up by just a little bit...we could then have a view of the whole moon during it's orbit. It would take rocket engine technology far in advance of what we have today, though.

Answer 3

The moon takes about 27.3 Earth days to rotate once. The moon also takes 27.3 Earth days to travel round the Earth. Thus the moon always shows the same face to Earth. This is called 'tidally locked'.

As the Earth spins, it's actually accelerating the moon. This is lifting the moon into a higher orbit (by about an inch every year) and one day in the far away future, the Moon will take one Earth day to orbit the Earth. The Earth and the moon will show the same face to each other until the end of days. This is called a 'locked orbit'.

Answer 4

Actually, we do only see one side of the moon, and that is because it rotates the same speed that it revolves around us. As it turns one way, it's circling us in the same direction. Hold a small ball, and rotate it slowly clockwise, while circling it around a larger ball. When the speeds match, you'll see the same face always points toward the earth.

A good read about the subject and the small variances that can change this can be read here. http://starryskies.com/The_sky/events/lunar-2003/eclipse9.html

Answer 5

Yes, the moon rotates at the same speed it revovles around the earth. It's the same as if you move in a circle around a table always facing the table, halfway around it you are facing the other way and then when you are all the way around you are looking in the same direction you started while always looking at the table.

Answer 6

Yes. Pretty much the same side with silght changes.

Answer 7

No, the moon rotates just like the earth so we see different sides at different times!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

I agree with Speed and she uses a great analogy. Brief to the point and correct. Give her the 10 points.

Answer 9

No , as the size of the earth and the moon vary very much . By the time earth takes one rotation the moon may tke more than on revolution.

Answer 10

Yes it is true. Anyone that tells you different has not read about it.