Does the moon rotate on its axis?

Why does the same side of the moon always face the earth?
Because of the orbit of the moon and its rotation are almost the same the near side of the moon always faces the earth. The orbit of the moon is elliptical and has a slight tilt.

Moon Information

[argusfleibeit]

I still cannot comprehend this. Thinking about it is driving me mad. So it rotates slower? Then, there should be several days a month when we slowly get to see all the other sides. But people in India see the same side of the moon all the time, just as we do in North America. If it rotates, we should see the other side. Even if it rotated on its side, with its "north pole" facing us, we would see the moon features on the side facing us slowly twirl, and we don't see this. I know I am going to sound like a Flat Earth Believer to those who can get it, but I'm an intelligent person and it's just making no sense at all to me.

[alexabadi]

The hidden side of the moon was actually very useful for the astronauts, when they needed to go to the bathroom, they had a place where nobody could see them !

[Loota]

So if the earth only sees one side of the moon for thousands of years and it's always in the exact same position that tells me there's fine tuning involved and hints at a creator. Thanks.

[arunpoomalai]

Long day doubt clears today 😊😊😊
Thankyou bro.
The animation visual helped me to understand the tidel concept... 👏👏👏
Keep inspiring bro....

[somebodyelse]

The moon does rotate. It rotates at the same rate it orbits the Earth. Since the rotation and revolution rates are the same, the same side is always showing to Earth.

[heathertaskinen]

For YEARS I’ve been angry about this because no one had ever explained it well enough to make sense before, but you’ve done it! Thank you. I now believe that the far side truly never faces the earth! Hahaha Thank

[pasunurusaivineeth]

As the moon's rotation and revolution periods are slightly off, shouldn't we able to witness the complete surface of it across a century/millenium or more?

[deathtwinky]

Since Childhood I always see the moon the same way. People try to hide this fact with ''coincidence''

[wavemaker]

But the moon is revolving around earth in a not perfect circle. That means that there should come a time when the rotation of the moon will not coincide with its revolution around earth but it never happened. It seems like the moon is adjusting its rotation to fit the same side facing earth and that is actually what is happening. It's like there is a giant magnet in front of the moon and only this side will always face earth.

[qqxgqni]

Can anyone point me to a NASA video showing REAL video of the moon rotating taken from a satellite? Any video of the moon taken from space should show some rotation.

Why hasn’t NASA made MANY such videos for teaching and educational purposes?

[EmoryBlakeMusic]

The video is very clear to me regarding WHY we always see the same side of the moon. What keeps me thinking is .... what are the odds that our closest neighbor acts this way? What happened during the formation of the solar system, and/or what is still happening as we speak, that specifically allows the moon to rotate at such a perfect speed that we always see the same side? A cosmic coincidence? And are there any asteroids, meteoroids or other near earth objects (not man made) that share this same property? I'm a little afraid that the answer may be so obvious that I'll soon be face palming myself. But, I'm ready to take the risk and hear any insights on this.

[bimron]

I always get confused because everyone tries to explain more than the question being asked!

[MrElciupacabra]

Moon doesn't have a rotation movement relatively to Earth. It doesn't rotate!. It has a rotation movement relatively to our Sun.
So how come you say here that has a rotation...relatively to Earth...doesn't rotate!
Maybe it does a mamojambo moovement relatively to Sun, but towards Earth is blunt!

[ravereviews]

I feel this only worked because you were moving it between 4 points instead of a sphere. To me itd appear the light side of the moon is land locked to our planet and although it rotates once, it only does so because it goes around the planet?

[Romaine-hg]

It's really simple.My high school science teacher told us to show us the moon does not turn the circle.It just goes around the Earth.It's stationary, just goes around the Earth with that 1 side.Always facing the Earth.You'll never see the other side cause if it was even slowly.Or fast you somebody on some part of this or would see the other side at one point you don't so it doesn't spin it just goes around the earth

[cantstoptommy]

Anyone else notice that the moon in the animation at 0:37 is following a square orbit?!? Lol Wtf?!

[bodyblow]

I love this kind of stuff, but seriously how can it spin exactly like this so we only ever see this side with all the variables over decades, it seems impossible

[aspegel]

The thing I don't get is how perfect the rotations are between earth and the moon for it to face the same direction. You would think it would be off kilter at some point - how can it be that perfect?

[casperyusuf]

The moon is not a rock in 'outer' space. The moon is cosmic plasma. The moon phases can educate you a little bit.

[yosefyisrael]

I watch a lot of animation and all NASA gives is animation footage of the earth... Some people believe anything they're told.