2006-11-14 10:17:03 · 10 answers · asked by Kevin C K 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Does the moon rotate? I know it rotates around the Earth, but maybe it does not rotate on an axis...
2006-11-14 10:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it isn't a coincidence. Over time, the moon developed a bulge on the side that was facing the earth most often. It's a very slight bulge, but it makes the moon less that perfectly spherical.
Gravity's pull on the bulged part caused it to always face the earth, over time.
That is what caused the moon to rotate at the same rate at which it revolves. This is the case for several other moons in the solar system as well. It is also the case for the planet Mercury and the Sun.
2006-11-14 12:41:00 · answer #2 · answered by swt2cu 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
M is partly right. The reason for the "coincidence" is called tidal lock. The Moon rotates, put does so while the same side always faces Earth.
This is a phenomenon caused by the Earth's large gravity in proportion to the Moon and the Moon's relatively close-in orbit. The two become embraced in a gravitational straight jacket.
The same thing happens to Mercury vis-a-vis the Sun, btw.
2006-11-14 10:56:26 · answer #3 · answered by Brendan G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tidal forces between the earth and moon over the course of billions of years have given the two a synchronous orbit. The moon rotates once every 27.3 days and revolves around the earth every 27.3 days. This means that the same side of the moon always faces the earth.
2006-11-14 10:56:24 · answer #4 · answered by dunc1ca 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In actual fact the Moon 'wobbles'. Around 63% of the Moon's surface is visible at one time or another- a number of features on the dark side were discovered by Sir Patrick Moore in the 1950s and 60s.
2006-11-14 10:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by Peter F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because it rotation time is the same as it revolution time.
That is, it takes 28 days for the moon to spin around itself, and also 28 days to turn around the Earth.
It is not a coincidence, all moon will eventually do this, it's some kind of equilibrium. At the time of dinosaurs, the moon was closer (therefore bigger in the sky) and it got further until it reached this equilibrium.
2006-11-14 10:21:09 · answer #6 · answered by kihela 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The moon came from Earth in the beginning - it is still a mass within earth's influence The moon's spin is based upon the center of earth's gravity, not it's own. But no worries, the moon is slowly drifting away from us and soon it's going to develop a spin non-congruous with us. Soon meaning a few thousand years...
2006-11-14 10:52:37 · answer #7 · answered by unlv_engineer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Im with you on that one. I also see that too. it has were given its eyes closed and it has its mouth open because it were to bypass to sing. To the classic shown actuality that the music note sits on the aspect of its face. Mark down below is nice. The moon not in any respect spins. The Earth spins around the moon each and every nighttime and springs back to its mandatory factor.
2016-11-24 19:53:14 · answer #8 · answered by berson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wonder how long its going to take Earth to reach its 'Equilibrium' with the Sun. We'd better stock up on our sunscrean folks. Because without our rotation, we can say goodbye to our protective magnetic field.
2006-11-14 10:40:58 · answer #9 · answered by Ellis26 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, coincidence. The moon just happens to revolve around the earth at the speed it rotates around its axis.
Isn't that nice!
2006-11-14 10:20:46 · answer #10 · answered by M 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋