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Just as the same side of the moon always faces the earth, does the same side of the earth always face the moon
I know that from the Earth, we see the same side of the moon all the time because of the moons axial rotation and its revolution times being equal. So, conversely, if you're standing on the moon, do you see the same side of the earth all the time as well?
15 Answers
- Joe RockheadLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
No. That would imply that the moon would always be over the same point of the earth, and by observation you can see that isn't so.
- 1 decade ago
No. The earth rotates which is the explanation of why time exists. Don't you notice there are times when the moon is not visible (daylight).
If someone WAS on the moon, they would see the earth rotate and could only see the same spot on earth once every 24 (earth) hours.
- 1 decade ago
No. The moon is visible across the world. If the same side of the Earth faced the Moon, the Moon would only be visible from one side of Earth, and it wouldn't move in the sky. In clarification of other answers, the Moon does rotate on its axis; since it is tidally locked with the Earth, its day is equivalent to the period of its orbit around the Earth (~27.3 Earth days).
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Let's think about that. Can people all around the world see the moon? I would think so. I've seen it from everywhere in the world that I've been, so if I can see the moon from anywhere on earth at the right time of the day/night, wouldn't it stand to reason that the same side of the earth does NOT always face the moon?
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- ShannonLv 45 years ago
This is because the moon is "tidally locked" to the Earth. This mean that the moon makes 1 revolution around the earth and at the same time rotates once. so it has a 1:1 orbital resonance. We always see the same side of the moon because its going around the earth, but spinning in sync to the revolution. i.e the moon rotates once every revolution around the earth, so the same side always faces us. did I explain it clearly enough?
- sassy sarahLv 41 decade ago
No, if that were true then only one side of the earth would ever see the moon.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
no. the earth rotates on its axis, whereas the moon does not. earth's gravity freezes the moon in place, so we always get to see the same side
- Anonymous1 decade ago
No the moon orbits the whole earth. Earth has too much mass to be locked on the moon.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
No-- think about it-- why then would we see the moon move across the sky during the night? Wouldn't it always be in the same place?
So many of these type questions could be answered by the asker if they' just think a moment.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
no, the earth rotates once each twenty four hours. if different parts of the world can see the moon, the moon would see what could see them.