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Date: 10 Dec 2006 06:05:19
From: moorthy
Subject: view of moon
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I have heard and read that we will face only on side of the moon all
time.I find it really difficult to understand the concept.can somebody
get a more clear picture of this with proper explanation.
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Date: 10 Dec 2006 08:41:38
From: Chris L Peterson
Subject: Re: view of moon
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On 10 Dec 2006 06:05:19 -0800, "moorthy" <cmkmoorthy@gmail.com > wrote:
>I have heard and read that we will face only on side of the moon all
>time.I find it really difficult to understand the concept.can somebody
>get a more clear picture of this with proper explanation.
This is called tidal locking; the Moon's orbital period around the Earth
is the same as its rotational period about its own axis (as if our day
and year were the same length).
Bodies that are close enough together to produce significant tides
eventually become tidally locked because they aren't perfectly uniform.
Imagine an extreme case where the two bodies are shaped like bowling
pins- tides would cause the two heavy ends to eventually face each other
all the time. In fact, the Earth and Moon do have a slightly uneven mass
distribution, and their heavy sides pull at each other. This has already
locked the Moon's rotation towards the Earth; eventually it will also
lock the Earth's, too. When that has happened, the Moon will always hang
over the same spot on the Earth, just as the Earth already hangs over
one spot on the Moon. There are no Earthrises or Earthsets on the Moon
(except for a slight oscillation due to the fact that the Moon appears
to wobble a bit).
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
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Date: 10 Dec 2006 15:24:21
From: Iordani
Subject: Re: view of moon
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moorthy wrote:
> I have heard and read that we will face only on side of the moon all
> time.I find it really difficult to understand the concept.can somebody
> get a more clear picture of this with proper explanation.
Raise your arm in front of you and clench your fist.
Pretend your fist is the moon and your head is the earth.
Now turn around and around... you will see the same side of your fist all
the time.
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Date: 10 Dec 2006 15:37:48
From: Iordani
Subject: Re: view of moon
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Iordani wrote:
> moorthy wrote:
>
>> I have heard and read that we will face only on side of the moon all
>> time.I find it really difficult to understand the concept.can somebody
>> get a more clear picture of this with proper explanation.
>
> Raise your arm in front of you and clench your fist.
> Pretend your fist is the moon and your head is the earth.
> Now turn around and around... you will see the same side of your fist all
> the time.
Oh, and of course, your head would have to turn almost 30 times for every
turn you make but I wouldn't recommend that :)
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