why can't we see the 'dark side' of the moon?

Question

moon quiz

Answer 1

The moon does not rotate on its axis, unlike the earth. Because of this, only one side of the moon is always visible, no matter from which angle it is seen.

Answer 2

When the moon is in crescent phase we CAN see the dark side of the moon, illuminated by EARTHSHINE --- light reflected off the (almost "full" as seen in the moon's sky) Earth re-reflected off the moon back to us. This is the same side of the moon that we see when the moon is full or in other phases, because the moon always shows the same face towards Earth due to its rotation being the same period as it revolves around the Earth. During its revolution around the Earth all points on the moon experience night and day.

TRY THIS: Next time you see the crescent moon in the early night sky take a really good look at it. If possible get out your binoculars. Look at the dark part. You will see it dimly lit by earthshine. Look even closer, and you will still see the familiar "man-in-the-moon" features even in the "dark" side.

If more people did this more folks would understand the relation between far side and "dark" side. Those who say the dark side *never* faces the Earth don't know what they are talking about.

Answer 3

We technically can see part of the dark side of the moon unless we are in the new moon phase. During all the other phases, the moon is not completely lit, revealing to us a dark side of the moon. If you refer to the dark side of the moon as the side always away from the Earth, "dark side" would not be the correct term, because if we see half the moon lit from Earth then the side we cant see of the moon is also half lit so that it wouldnt be the dark side.

Answer 4

Because of the way the earth-moon system was formed (breakup of early earth leading to formation of planet-moon system), the moon's rotation locked into its orbital time, so that one side of the moon faces the earth at all times, and we don't see the other side from earth. The moon does actually spin, just like Earth does, but its rate of spin equals to its orbital time. "Dark side of the moon" is a misnomer, because during new moon, the other side is facing the sun and is fully sunlit. Because the moon's orbit about the earth isn't perfectly circular, the moon appears to "nutate", or wobble left and right slightly when viewed from earth during its lunar cycle, so we actually do see slightly more than half of the moon's surface.

Answer 5

We see all sides off the moon, we just do not see certain parts when they are at an certain spots in relation to us. No part is always on the "dark side" of the moon.

Answer 6

As the moon orbits the earth, the side we see is always turned toward earth, the other side never. If you want to see the other side you will have to take a space ship beyond the moon and look back. Don't forget your flash light.

Answer 7

By a natural coincidence, the moon rotates on its axis relative to its' orbital speed causing it to show the same side to us at all points of its' orbit. The dark side of the moon is the side that faces away from our planet.

Answer 8

We only ever see one side of the moon because that side is always facing towards the earth during its orbit.

Therefore the other side which we cannot see is " dark" or hidden to us. It isn´t actually always dark, after all the Sun shines on it sometimes, we just can´t see it.

Theres probably some secret alien base on the other side hidden in a crater.

Answer 9

the 'dark side of the moon' is the opposite side that the sun is reflecting on. basically it is its shadow. no particular side is marked as the dark side, just wherever the sun isn't hitting at the time. of course, you can always 'listen' to the 'Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd, then perhaps you won't ask.

Answer 10

Who says so??? If you can not see, that does not mean that nobody can see....I can see the dark side of the moon...and for your kind information...it is very dark....too black....