Science Fact Finder | Space - Why Does The Moon Always Keep The Same Face Toward The Earth?

Why does the moon always keep the same face toward the Earth?

Only one side of the moon is seen because it takes the exact same length of time for the moon to rotate once about its axis, as it does to complete one revolution around the Earth. The result of this combination of motions (called "captured rotation") is that the moon always keeps the same side toward Earth.

Sources: Moore, Patrick. Atlas of the Solar System, p. 147; Pickering, James S. 1001 Questions Answered About Astronomy, p. 23.

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