Does the sun ever shine on the other side of the moon, if so when?
2007-03-14 04:59:03 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes, but only when we're not looking.
2007-03-14 05:14:44 · answer #1 · answered by johncee 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes the sun does shine on the "Dark side" of the moon.
The "Dark side" is a name given to the area of the moon we can never see from earth.
The eaiest way of explaing this may be to think of a luna eclipse.
The passage of the suns rays are then partially blocked by the moon (the moon being between the sun an the earth) at which point the "Dark side" of the moon receives the sun’s rays.
2007-03-14 05:27:38 · answer #2 · answered by kevin k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon revolves around the earth every 28 days. So there is not a dark side of the moon. It always keeps the same side facing the earth all the time but the moon is up there in daylight hours.
2007-03-14 07:07:02 · answer #3 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the sun does shine on the "dark side." We only call it the dark side because we never see it. The rotation of earth and the moon is about the same so we never see the other side but it's not really dark, only to us.
2007-03-14 05:04:27 · answer #4 · answered by ftrastronaut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the dark side does get sun.
As someone else explained - the thing is only one side of the moon ever faces the earth. (It is in a "gravitational lock" with the earth.)
Oddly, the moon is heavier (or denser) in some parts. And, since it is so close to the earth, that side is slightly more attracted to the earth.
So, the "dark" side gets plenty of sun. If you think about it, when we have a solar eclipse (Sun, moon, earth in alignment, in that order) the dark side is in complete sun.
Hope that helps!
2007-03-14 05:32:01 · answer #5 · answered by tigglys 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It is always dark due to the slow rotation of the moon. One side only always faces the sun.
2007-03-14 06:59:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're referring to the side of the moon opposite the earth, yes. It is fully illuminated when we have our new moon and completely dark when the moon is full. The moon's "day" is 28 earth days long.
2007-03-14 06:57:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it does. The orbital period of the Moon just happens to be identical (or nearly so) with it's rotational period which leaves one face always pointed towards the Earth. There is no 'dark side' to the Moon.
Doug
2007-03-14 05:10:27 · answer #8 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it does. When it's new moon to us, the far side of the moon is receiving ALL sunlight. It has a 'day' just like Earth, only it's day is 28 of our days long - same as it's orbit.
2007-03-14 05:03:26 · answer #9 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
half the moon is always lit by the sun.and if you were on the other side of the earth , moon system, in between the earth and the sun, you would always see a full moon, unless the moon went behind the earth,lunar eclipse.
2007-03-14 11:27:56 · answer #10 · answered by paulbritmolly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, how do you think Pink Floyd wrote Dark Side of the Moon?
When it was light.
2007-03-14 07:37:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋