Why do we only see one side of the moon? Does the Moon rotate? Big Questions Explained!

Fom our viewpoint on Earth, the moon always shows the same side. There’s no permanently dark side of the moon, but there is a far side that we’d never seen until 1959 when the Russians put the space probe Luna 3 in orbit around the moon. But if the moon is rotating, why don’t we see all of it?
Update - follow up video here • Does the Moon Rotate? ...
This is a hard one to get your head around as several things are moving at once. The Moon is actually rotating on its own axis. But it is also orbiting the Earth. Over time, the gravity of the Earth has slowed the moon’s rotation down. This is known as tidal locking.
What this means is that although it’s rotating, the Moon always keeps the same face facing towards the Earth. This is down to two important facts:
1. The moon rotates on its own axis, and it takes approximately 28 days to make one full rotation
2. The moon orbits around the earth and takes approximately 28 days to make one full orbit.
As you can see, this means that the time to orbit the Earth and the time to spin on it’s axis are the same. So from Earth, the moon always shows the same side.
www.sciencefix...

[@faerykaye]

THANK YOU for explaining that the moon rotates at the same rate as it orbits. That + the animation was what finally got my brain to wrap around the concept of tidal locking.

[@annettecls]

Thank you! I'd watched several videos that explained tidal lock but I just couldn't understand until I saw your illustration! Now I get it :)

[@jameslast3192]

I completely agree! I did the same thing till I found this.

[@barbaraartz3030]

Best explanation ever!!! Geez, crazy how hard this concept was for me😅🎉

[@RevofOne]

You weren't the only one. It's hard to grasp. But yeah those illustration were what I needed!! Up until now this was hurting my head.

[@RacheyBoBachey]

I couldn't understand the concept until I saw this animation. Thank you

[@steff.s.m]

After several videos, from the simplest to the more complex ones, yours is the only video that actually helped me wrap my mind around the moon rotation. Thank you

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Glad it helped!

[@kashnimago2096]

The way you explained it is beautiful! Didn't understand the concept till I watched this video. Thanks a ton!

[@Nicelady29]

Thank you for that great color coded animation I’m a full on adult and I’ve never been able to get my head around this concept and now I can stop trying to get it!!

[@sseguyaabraham2007]

Best explanation

[@DaisyDuck9]

This is by far the best video I have seen on this. Thank you!

[@killaking173]

Thank you for the illustrations; now it makes sense.

[@margaretjohnston5817]

It also helps to hover your finger over the earth in the animation showing the moon rotating while orbiting the earth to be able to see the rotation still.

[@Kingcharleschow1]

Simple and easy to understand.

[@tonyfc8809]

So the earth's gravitational pull has slowed down to where we only see the one side with each revolution, BUT at the same time the earth is supposedly spinning at 1000 mph. Hard to believe....

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

well yeah. In the time it takes the moon to go once around us, the earth has spun 29 times. It took billions of years to slow the moon down until it was tidally locked, but it happened.

[@conancarroll4780]

Or...we are looking at a reflection of the real earth?...this theory is not probable, but then again most scientists are sheep...🤣

[@moosaanwar7919]

Moon doesn't spin. It is just orbiting the Earth just once every 28 days. When you walk around an object clockwise, it is you right side that is facing the object. Does that mean you are spinning while running. The same goes for all satellite object booting the earth. They just orbit the Earth and you'd see the same side from the Earth unless they spin. Moon doesn't rotate.

[@SR-uz1ov]

@@moosaanwar7919 ok but now I'm starting to doubt the earth spins

[@margaretjohnston5817]

you see that the "moon" IS rotating still if you hide the earth from view by hovering your finger over it.

[@barryarchbold87]

finally I get it, once I saw the coloured sections, thanks!

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Glad I could help!

[@adamparton7355]

It’s like following one blade on a ceiling fan with your eyes…both are rotating but you only see one blade

[@DjTatty]

that's not right, because we rotate as well & if you watch your animation it doesn't actual rotate it just obits us which gives the illusion that its rotating

[@jamberry8026]

Thank you. That video shows the moon not rotating and everyone fell for that great lie. I believe Bob Lazar.

[@josephodiase174]

Thanks, this explanation is not conclusive

[@phonixsolomon6275]

Absolutely, otherwise you wouldn't see the very exact immobile face of the moon without the slightest variation in that image, If it were synchronic rotation you could see always the same face but not in the very same angle without the slightest variation on degrees.

[@phonixsolomon6275]

To me this is so obvious!! But in every place they say it rotates on its own axis, common sense would say that the problem is with me, but I don't know what to think any longer

[@phonixsolomon6275]

I think its axis it is not in itself but in the earth, it doesn't matter that earth rotates on it's own axis to a different velocity.

[@jameslast3192]

Thanks Danny, your visual was very helpful for my brain anyway. I was looking up tidal locking and it was way to complicated in words but your illustration explained it perfectly, now even the words make sense when I read them. Isn’t the brain a funny but wonderful thing! Thanks mate.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

No problem!

[@Steven_Rowe]

I watched loads of videos of this many I feel Einstein would struggle to understand as they were way to technical and lavished in a sauce of BS. After watching this and your animation with the coloured quadrants the fog has cleared. Thanks

[@Simplemindedgenius]

What I don't get is when you held the ball and span around, it was facing you the whole time, yet it didn't spin on its axis as you were holding it, not allowing it to. Yet it still faced the same way the full 360 degrees.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

when viewed from above, the ball has made one turn as it goes around me.

[@Simplemindedgenius]

@@DannyNicholsonsTechFix I don't get how it span when you were holding it. That doesn't allow it to spin on its axis. The very act of you holding it is preventing it from spinning on its axis. I just don't get it.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

​@@Simplemindedgenius it's harder to see from that demo - because you're right, it is facing me the whole time, so it's the same as if I am holding it in place.. but if you were to view the ball from above, it would have gone through a rotation - it starts facing one direction in space, half way through it's facing a totally different direction in space and by the end it's facing back again. The better demo is the animation with the coloured quarters, you can really see it rotate then.

[@georgewu4051]

If I could humbly add on to this explanation, it is the point of view/perspective that makes the difference. If we’re viewing on earth, then the moon is as if it’s not spinning (like the face is always facing the camera in the first demo). But from the point of view of a third person standing above the camera looking down, the smiley ball is indeed spinning on its own axis, in sync with the rotation around the earth’s axis. In fact if it wasn’t spinning, then we would actually be able to see the far side of the moon as it will be revealed to us if it is static in terms of self-spin.

[@margaretjohnston5817]

In the moon and earth animation, you see that the "moon" IS rotating still if you hide the earth from view by hovering your finger over it.

[@MG63]

At last, I finally understand. Thank you. Regards. 😲😲

[@albertopisanello3911]

Great explanation! Finally got my head around it.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Glad it helped!

[@josephodiase174]

It's seems like manipulations to me.

[@xcimlinn]

Excellent video demonstration !

[@TB-xx8vj]

Nathan Oakley 1980 is reviewing your video live now. He sent me here. Please share the love.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Thanks. Here's an updated video to help with the visualisation of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5eoc2OmfdGDqbc

[@ansarisufiyan2883]

Thanks Danny

[@stephanieberve49]

Oh my god my mind is blown!! Thank you!

[@kianabed7065]

Well explained

[@jameslast3192]

It is spinning but in time with a full orbit so it looks to us like it’s not. Tidal locking. Trippy stuff.

[@cassiojr5041]

I finally get it!

[@SL-be7zh]

Sorry but this is like a ball on a chain being swung around, which shows no spin. This still doesn’t explain how it spins but we only see one side. The blue section also ways remains on the outside face which doesn’t indicate a spin on its axis.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

from an obserer high above the earth looking down on the whole thing, the moon would do one complete spin, as it moves around the Earth. Yes it looks like a ball on a chain, because it's tidally-locked by the Earth's gravity.

[@SL-be7zh]

@@DannyNicholsonsTechFix but isn’t that what the animation is supposed to show and yet it doesn’t. If you remove the view of the earth from this the animation does not show a spin on its axis.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

@@SL-be7zh but it is. I show the animation of the moon spinning. I then make that spinning animation travel in a circle around the earth. As soon as it does that it looks like it's not spinning. But it's the exact same animation - just moving in a circle.

[@SL-be7zh]

@@DannyNicholsonsTechFixmaybe I’m being dense but In the second animation it’s a ball on a chain like I said, there is no axis spin. I studied physics in collage and this one thing I could never get my head around. I could easily be wrong but it’s just doesn’t click. Thanks for trying to explain it though.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

I know - and that's what it looks like. I could just hold it and spin round. I guess try and imagine a bicycle wheel spinning while moving in a circle around a central point. Paint a line on part of the wheel facing towards the middle. It turns by one degree, but at the same time moves very slightly around circle by one degree. If it's turned through 90 degrees, it's moved 90 degrees around the circle. To an observer looking down from above, it's keeping the same bit of the wheel pointing towards the middle of the central point. When it's turned through 360 degrees, it's also moved in a complete circle. It's spinning, but the moving counters it, so it always has the same line pointing towards the middle circle. It does mess with your head trying to imagine it though!

[@user-or9cj3vk6t]

Fact Check: The moon is fixed just as earth is, does not rotate and is electromagnetic plasma phenomena

[@user-bm3pw2ji8z]

Still cant see the rotation.,. In your video moon is not rotating

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Yes it is. Its the same rotating animation I show first, but it's moving in a circular motion. As soon as it does that, it looks like it's not rotating, but it is. Honest.

[@margaretjohnston5817]

you see that the "moon" IS rotating still if you hide the earth from view by hovering your finger over it.

[@billdavis6238]

So that ballon with the face on it, was rotating as you spun around the room?

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

From the viewpoint of somebody directly above the balloon, looking down onto it, yes. It would have rotated.

[@adrianvasilica2425]

To much synchronization for me! Is to much !

[@michauxborns]

"Doctors say they must operate soon, but there's no knowing what they'll find when they open up the wound - I will meet you on the other side of the moon..." (Trower)

[@damarenrenovationinc9493]

What are the chances the moon took the orbit around the earth?

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

the moon was once part of the earth, but it was ripped out when something large hit the early earth -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2asfXyanKaBpaM

[@debbieround3570]

❤

[@stevenwilliams1915]

Still doesn't explain the "locking" phenomenon... It seems only logical that over time the moon's rotation would "creep". There must be some interaction (magnetic?) that keeps the moon completely synchronous... just say'in

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

It's gravitationally locked. The pull of the Earths gravity has, over billions of years, locked the moon like that.

[@stevenwilliams1915]

Yeah... but why???@@DannyNicholsonsTechFix

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

@@stevenwilliams1915 Nasa explanation here: science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/ I feel another video coming on!

[@margaretjohnston5817]

you see that the "moon" IS rotating still if you hide the earth from view by hovering your finger over it.

[@damarenrenovationinc9493]

What are the chances this could occur. 1 in a billion?

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Nah, tidal locking is quite common in the solar system science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/

[@Mr22brian22]

Your showing the Moon 🌝 NOT Rotating, while trying to claim that it is, your red/yellow side is never facing out away from the centre point, so that is NOT a rotation. At 4:19 you show the 4 colours rotating, then you go on to show them NOT rotating, lol come on lad give us a break….

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

It's absolutely rotating. The animation of the moon rotating is then made to move in a circle. It now looks like it isn't rotating, but it is. Honest.

[@Mr22brian22]

@@DannyNicholsonsTechFix No it’s not rotating not at all, you’re believing a story that is designed to gas light you, I’m sorry….

[@Mr22brian22]

@@DannyNicholsonsTechFix No as the whole claim for it being tidally locked makes a rotation upon its own axis impossible, so one claim debunks the other, as if the moon must hold the same face towards the globe at all times due to a force of gravity ( out of date ) then it can’t rotate upon its axis as it’s not being allowed to by a force of gravity, if it rotated upon its axis and orbited then the outcome would have similarities to the globe/Sun relationship, but both stories contradict each other, and they try to patch this up by bringing time in as a factor, when it has actually no bearing upon anything, as the outcomes of both scenarios would have to be the same, just happening at different rates within that paradigm.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

@@Mr22brian22 I've updated the animation. See the new video. What it would like like if a) the moon was rotating, and b) the moon wasn't rotating. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5eoc2OmfdGDqbc It's rotating, while moving, if it wasn't rotating, it would stay pointing at the same point in space as it moves around us. Tidal locking means its rotational period is exactly the same as the orbital period. If the two are matched up, it appears not to be moving. But it is. www.sciencefocus.com/space/what-is-tidal-locking

[@trinogt]

So basically, it’s just a huge fluke that the moon rotates exactly one time with exactly one orbit in 27.3 days, for both?! Yeah, i’m just going with the fact that God created this with perfection. Too many flukes here for me… just like we have less technology now than we did in 1969, so we can’t get to the moon again 😂

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Not a fluke - it wasn't always this way. Just down to the gradual slowing down caused by gravity eventually ending with tidal locking.

[@Fluggums]

Watch the video dude

[@trishagatch596]

Too much coincidence to be a coincidence 😉 His evidence is everywhere! 🙏🏼

[@ChristianCzekus]

@NathanOakley1980 sent me.Come join us.

[@DannyNicholsonsTechFix]

Thanks. Here's an updated video to help with the visualisation of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5eoc2OmfdGDqbc

[@DK-P418]

Wow very good visualization, I understand now without fully grasping however. The Lord is the ultimate genius in His creation 🙏