Moon doesn't rotate? Must be why they talk of the dark side of the moon
It does rotate - just at precisely the same rate as it orbits the Earth, thus presenting the same face to the Earth (and hence to outer space) at all times. Another astronomical coincidence, of which there are many.
It's not a coincidence, it's the result of the Moon being tidally locked to the Earth.
It does rotate - just at precisely the same rate as it orbits the Earth, thus presenting the same face to the Earth (and hence to outer space) at all times. Another astronomical coincidence, of which there are many.
It's not a coincidence, it's the result of the Moon being tidally locked to the Earth.
If there is always a dark side of the moon surely any rotation of the moon must be linked to how it faces the sun, not he earth?
If it's rotation is aligned to the Earth, it would be a blind side which would sometimes have sunlight - shirley?
And when there is a lunar eclipse, the sun is shining on the side we cannot see?
Confused ....
Yes, I realised that on my way into work!
What is a co-incidence though is that the moon is precisely the right size and distance away from the Earth for there to (currently) be a precise total eclipse...
More a coincidence that we are alive at the right time to see it this way.