Replace the moon with an Aeroplane revolving around the earth keeping all other factors same.
We would see only the Belly of the Aeroplane And Never the Top of the aeroplane.
Nobody would say that it's revolving around itself at the same speed as as it rotates around the earth.
Then, why we consider that Moon is revolving around itself ?
Just because we cannot see other side of the moon is not the satisfactory reason to belive that it moves around itself.
2007-03-29 05:49:45 · 10 answers · asked by Hot Ice 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
the moon spins on its axis as the earth does.
the moon also orbits the earth (while spinning on its axis)
2007-03-29 05:54:09 · answer #1 · answered by juntius 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at it from above. When the moon is on one side of the earth it is facing one direction. When it is on the opposite side of the earth it is facing a different direction. That means that the moon rotated 180 degrees as it went halfway around the earth. When it finishes the orbit it will rotate 360 degrees.
You are being confused by your role as an observer inside the system.
2007-03-29 12:57:36 · answer #2 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to disagree. There are some people who would say that the aeroplane was revolving (actually the correct word is rotating) around itself -- me, for example.
From the point of view of somebody far away from Earth, and not moving relative to the far stars, the aeroplane (or the Moon, whichever), is rotating. Also from the point of view of a gyroscope inside the plane, the plane is rotating around the gyroscope.
2007-03-29 12:55:58 · answer #3 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first manned mission to the moon , Apollo 8, circled around the moon but the astronauts did not land on the moon.
But they took some photographs of the back side of the moon.
It looks really strange because there are a lot more craters on the moon's other side, but they have never been seen from Earth.
2007-03-29 13:01:09 · answer #4 · answered by AviationMetalSmith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon does rotate. It's rate of rotation is exactly the same as its orbital period. As you've pointed out with your airplane analogy, if the moon didn't rotate we could see the other side half the time.
The technical term, if I remember it, is that the moon is "tide locked" to the earth.
2007-03-29 12:57:06 · answer #5 · answered by Terry S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The moon rotates on its axis at 10.3 mph. It orbits around Earth at 2,286 mph. These two speeds are such that only one side is facing Earth.
2007-03-29 13:22:23 · answer #6 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
moon is a satellite and satellites revolve around themselves. it takes 29 days to spin once on its axis and the same number of days to revolve around the earth. thats the reason we are able to see only one side of the moon. this is the same theory used behind geo stationary satellites also!
2007-03-29 12:58:54 · answer #7 · answered by twinkle stars 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who ever said the moon revolves around itself? How would that be possible?
You're referring to it's rotation...it ROTATES on its axis, and REVOLVES around the earth.
2007-03-29 12:54:20 · answer #8 · answered by a kinder, gentler me 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are we the center of the universe?
The moon is tidally locked so that the period of its rotation is equal to the period of its orbit.
2007-03-29 12:54:46 · answer #9 · answered by tedfischer17 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this is not a satisfactory reason for you then you
are insatiable...
2007-03-29 12:58:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋