Why can we only see one side of the Moon?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Its rotation matches its orbit
Its rotation matches its orbit ✓ — Correct! The Moon does rotate, but it takes exactly the same time (27.3 days) to spin once as to orbit Earth. Earth's gravity caused this 'tidal locking' over millions of years. So the same side always faces us. The far side gets sunlight too—we just can't see it from Earth.
Earth's gravity stops rotation — Wrong. Earth's gravity doesn't stop the Moon from rotating. Instead, gravity caused tidal locking over time, making the rotation period equal to the orbital period.
The far side is always dark — Wrong. The far side of the Moon receives sunlight just like the near side. It's not permanently dark - we just can't see it from Earth due to tidal locking.
More Astronomy & Space questions
- The Sun is cooler than the proton barrier suggests. Why does fusion still start?
- Earth's atmosphere slowly leaks to space. Which gas escapes fastest?
- Why is Earth's day getting slightly longer every century?
- Why was Earth's day stuck at 19.5 hours for 1.5 billion years?
- Why might several small units beat one giant Moon reactor?
- Why is fission likelier than fusion for first Moon bases?
