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View Full Version : Moon axis


sandraf46
Jan 22, 2009, 11:07 PM
Does the moon rotate on an axis like the earth?

Capuchin
Jan 23, 2009, 07:44 AM
Yes, this is why we only see one side of the moon - it rotates at the same rate as it orbits.

sarnian
Jan 25, 2009, 07:36 AM
The moon rotates around it's own axis while it orbits planet earth.
The moon's rotation is "in synch" with the orbit around earth (1 rotation during 1 orbit).
That is why we see only one side of the moon from earth.

It is interesting to note that although the moon orbits planet earth , planet earth also wobbles around their common path (called "barycenter") around the sun.

Link to barycenter animation earth-moon path around the sun (http://calgary.rasc.ca/barycenter.htm).