if so which ones?
2007-11-25 01:41:31 · 7 answers · asked by Ste B 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
for you two that said all of them, ours orbits the Earth but does not rotate thats why we always see the same side of it.
2007-11-25 01:48:57 · update #1
tenko cowboy - maybe, although coz its on wikapidea does not mean its true.
2007-11-25 02:14:44 · update #2
Bubblez, thanks thats a good explanation
2007-11-25 02:16:00 · update #3
All of the moons in our solar system rotate. They don't rotate at all the same pace, however.
Earth's moon does have an orbit AND a rotation. The reason why we only see one side of the moon is because both the rotation of the Moon and its revolution around Earth takes 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes. If the moon were to have no rotation, we would see all sides of the moon during its cycles.
If you want a visual, hold a ball in one hand and a playing card in the other. The ball would represent the earth, the card would represent the moon [light side and dark side]. Designate a side of the card to be the light side of the moon, and the other side to be the dark side. Move the card around the ball in the other hand in an orbit where you do not rotate your card hand. Notice how the Earth sees both sides of the card in this way. Now, move the card around the ball so only the light side of the card is facing the ball at all times. You will find your hand rotating the card to accommodate for the light side's position towards the ball as you move it around. The card is now in rotation, and at the same pace that you are revolving the card around the ball.
This is how the moon manages to rotate and revolve around us with Earth observers only seeing one side of the moon.
2007-11-25 02:13:59 · answer #1 · answered by Bubblez 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hey come on, Guy, If Our moon didn't rotate, we would be able to see all of the moon's surfaces as it travels around the earth approximately once every 30 days. It's a scientific fact that when two objects in space rotate around one another, they tend to slow each others rotation down. don't ask me how or why, I'm still puzzeled about that one. The moon being much smaller than earth, slowed down to the point that it rotates at just enough to show the same side to us at all times. Wierd, huh.
2007-11-25 13:58:43 · answer #2 · answered by Jackolantern 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of them. Many are tidally locked to their primary, like our Moon, so that they always keep one face towards the primary, but that still means they rotate once for every orbit they take around their primary.
2007-11-25 11:17:46 · answer #3 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats what I thought but Wiki says that the rotational speed at equator is 4.6 m/s.
Maybe it spins the opposite way to the earth so that is why we only ever see the same side.
2007-11-25 10:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by tenko cowboy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I thiught that they all did. Our one must rotate to keep the same side pointing at us.
2007-11-25 10:51:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
...um, all of them ---ok (apparently, except for earths...must have been asleep in science class for that one...)
(that's how moons still have night and day)
plus, how could there be a darkside of the moon, if there was no light side?
2007-11-25 09:44:54 · answer #6 · answered by man on the mountain 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
all of them
a list:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Moons_of_solar_system.jpg/787px-Moons_of_solar_system.jpg
2007-11-25 09:44:07 · answer #7 · answered by Splishy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋