I have wondered as to why we only see one side of the moon. Why is that the moon only shows one side of it?
2006-12-20 09:43:08 · 19 answers · asked by Mr. Dangles 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
actually it does.. it is somehow in perfect sync to show the same side to us at all times
2006-12-20 09:45:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The moon rotates just enough so that the same side is facing earth during its orbit. While doing so, it wobbles a bit, and we get to see slightly more than 50% of its surface.
Look at it this way: suppose the moon would not rotate. During its orbit, we first get to see the side we currently do. After half an orbit, the other side of the moon would be facing earth. Try this yourself: take a ball and put some mark on it. Move it around in a simulated orbit but make sure the mark is always facing a window or such. You are in the center of this orbit. After half an orbit, you will notice the mark has appeared, while in the beginning it was facing away from you. Retry the experiment, but now let the ball rotate on its own axis while you move it around. The mark is always facing outwards, i.e. you don't get to see it.
2006-12-20 14:09:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The core of the moon is offset from center. It works in the same way that sattelites use a long boom with a weight on the end to keep it pointing to the earth's surface. The gravitational pull on the moon keeps the side where the core is closer to toward the earth.
That is all. It does not rotate and don't listen to these clowns who say it does. The same side of the moon is facing the earth at all times.
2006-12-20 09:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by Mike J 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It does rotate, we are just lucky that its rotation matches with its orbit so that the face we see is always towards earth.
For a long time no one knew what was on the far side of the moon. There was a joke with Apollo 8 crew about that. They had an orbit 60 miles above the surface of the moon. The joke was that they would discover the 61 mile tall mountain on the far side.
2006-12-20 09:46:57 · answer #4 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The moon does not rotate. To say it does because it revolves around the earth is just idiotic. Rotation on an axis means the object spins on its footprint. Revolving around something else in no way gives an object a spinning movement on its own footprint. The earth spins, the moon revolves around the earth without spinning. This is unique in the known universe and is one of many reasons why many believe the moon is not a naturally made object.
2014-09-20 09:47:02 · answer #5 · answered by M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether or not it rotates depends on what you mean by "rotate".
If by rotate you mean "Over time I see different sides of the moon from earth" then it does not.
On the other hand, the face of the moon we see points in different directions in the solar system over the course of the lunar month -- sometimes at the sun when the moon is full, sometimes away from the sun when the moon is new. By that definition, it DOES rotate.
Like Einstein said, it depends on your reference point.
2006-12-20 12:21:40 · answer #6 · answered by Berry K 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It does rotate. It's rotation just happens to coincide with its revolution around the earth. This process is called "tidal locking" which, as can be implied, is a result of tidal forces of the earth acting against the tidal forces of the moon. Here's another interesting fact about the moon. It's moving away from the earth at about 3.8 cm per year. You can read more about it here.
http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=124
2006-12-20 09:55:15 · answer #7 · answered by Kookiemon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does rotate but it takes longer for it rotate than earth and it's orbiting around the earth as well so you see the same side everytime you look at it.
2006-12-20 09:48:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gravitational pull plus the rotation of the earth holds the moon in place so that it only shows one side.
2006-12-20 09:46:16 · answer #9 · answered by Russianator 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It does rotate but at the right speed so we always see the same side apparently. Didn't know that until I checked.
2006-12-20 09:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by Jennie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It does rotate, but at the same speed as the earth, so it only appears not to rotate.
2006-12-20 10:38:18 · answer #11 · answered by Michael B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋