2007-05-04 08:47:33 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes. the same part of the moon is always facing the earth.
2007-05-04 08:50:22 · answer #1 · answered by John S 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It depends on your point of reference. If you were, say, on Mars and looked at our moon ignoring Earth you would say it rotates, but not about its center.
The Earth and the Moon rotate about their common center of gravity which, due the the Earth's mass is still inside the earth, but off center. Picture an athlete spinning the "hammer" for a throw.
Also the moon is tidally locked to the earth which comes about because the moon's center of gravity is not quite central and therefore over millions of years it has settled down at the point nearest the earth. This explains why we always see the same side of the Moon. In fact this is not quite true as there is a slight wobble so the moon shows us a little of it's dark side with each movement, but always the same bit.
2007-05-04 11:29:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the moon does not spin even when its dark the same side faces the earth always. if it did spin dont you think eventually somewhere on earth someone would see something other than the mans face?
2015-09-19 03:21:03 · answer #3 · answered by Terry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spin as in Rotate????...no. It wobbles back and forth a little bit, but it's pretty much tidally locked to the planet. (people who answered with yes haven't done their homework, misunderstood the question or are misinformed).
Spin as in Revolve (orbit) around the Earth?.....yes...it makes a complete revolution around the Earth every 28 days or so.
Look it up for yourselves if you don't believe me.
UPDATE: If you go with the opposite of this answer you will be wrong.
2007-05-04 09:34:47 · answer #4 · answered by Charlie Bravo 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes. Once every 29.53059 earth days which is exactly the length of a lunar month. This is why the earth always faces only one side of the moon.
2007-05-04 09:20:32 · answer #5 · answered by Baybars 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes it revolves on it axis once every 28 days . this keeps the same side next to the earth all the time.
2007-05-04 08:58:27 · answer #6 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, the moon does not rotate on its axis as does the earth. If it did, we would be able to see both "sides" of the moon. One side is called the dark side because it cannot be seen unless we go there and orbit it. The same side of the moon always faces the earth and the sun.
2007-05-04 08:51:40 · answer #7 · answered by andromedasview@sbcglobal.net 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Yes, although its rotational period is the same as its orbital period. That's why we always see the same side (59% of the surface, actually, due to libration and parallax). It is tidally locked to the earth.
2007-05-04 08:54:56 · answer #8 · answered by JLynes 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes. But because the period of rotation about its axis is the same 28 days as its period of revolution about the Earth, it always shows the same face toward us.
2007-05-04 08:52:48 · answer #9 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Yes. It's "day" is exactly as long as it takes to complete 1 Earth orbit.
2007-05-04 08:56:33 · answer #10 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋