Although the earth's natural satellite,moon has two sides but we are able to see only one side.Explain why.
Answers
Answer:
Only one side of the Moon is visible from Earth because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that the Moon orbits the Earth – a situation known as synchronous rotation, or tidal locking. The Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun, and the cyclically varying viewing conditions cause the lunar phases.
Why is only one side of the moon visible from the earth?
One side of the moon always faces Earth because of what's called synchronous rotation. That is, the moon rotates, or spins on its axis, in the same length of time it takes to orbit Earth. ... For that reason, our moon always has one side facing Earth, which we call the moon's near side.
Answer:
Only one side of the Moon is visible from Earth because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that the Moon orbits the Earth – a situation known as synchronous rotation, or tidal locking. The Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun, and the cyclically varying viewing conditions cause the lunar phases.The Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun, and the cyclically varying viewing conditions cause the lunar phases. Sometimes the dark portion of the Moon is faintly visible due to earthshine, which is indirect sunlight reflected from the surface of Earth and onto the Moon.
Since the Moon's orbit is both somewhat elliptical and inclined to its equatorial plane, liberation allows up to 59% of the Moon's surface to be viewed from Earth