Space: Our Moon is tidally locked to Earth: it rotates on its…

Question

Did you know? Our Moon is tidally locked to Earth: it rotates on its axis at exactly the same rate as it orbits Earth. That's why we always see the same side. The far side — the "dark side" — is not darker, but invisible from Earth. Only in 1959 did the Soviet probe Luna 3 photograph it for the first time.

Accepted Answer

Our Moon is tidally locked to Earth: it rotates on its axis at exactly the same rate as it orbits Earth. That's why we always see the same side. The far side — the "dark side" — is not darker, but invisible from Earth. Only in 1959 did the Soviet probe Luna 3 photograph it for the first time.

Onze maan is "tidal locked" met de aarde: hij draait precies even snel om zijn as als om de aarde. Daarom zien we altijd dezelfde kant. De achterkant — de "donkere kant" — is niet donkerder, maar onzichtbaar vanaf de aarde. Pas in 1959 fotografeerde de Sovjet sonde Luna 3 hem voor het eerst.

Meer uit Ruimte · More from Space