The Dark Side Of The Moon

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A NASA visualisation (using data captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) showing the far side of the moon (not visible from Earth) as it cycles though its phases and libration.

For comparison, here’s the same sequence from the earth’s POV.

laughingsquid

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6 thoughts on “The Dark Side Of The Moon

  1. newsjustin

    So is there one side/half of the moon that we never, ever see? I’ve wondered that for years.
    Does the moon not revolve on its axis like the earth?

    1. Spaghetti Hoop

      Our moon and a lot of other moons in the solar system are affected by ‘tidal locking’
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_locking

      The Apollo missions have seen t’other side. Apollo 13 used the moon as a slingshot anchor, you may recall from de movie. I think radio contact might be impossible or at least very poor from the dark side – I may be wrong.

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