The Rotation of the Moon

The Rotation of the Moon

Today’s astronomers explain the Moon’s rotation about its axis with one side visible to Earth. The theory states, the moon spins on its north-south axis in harmony with its orbital velocity around the Earth. This revolution or slow spin of the axis of the Moon allegedly turns precisely at a rate, which keeps the same side always facing the Earth. Under close examination, this theory will reveal a new solution.

Astronomers observing the Moon noticed that it seems to be rotating on its axis in precise synchronization with its orbital speed, but their conclusion is wrong. A close examination would reveal the Moon does not rotate at all and is void of spin. For an experiment attach a hypothetical rigid connection between the axis of the Moon and the axis of the Earth. Next set into motion the connection arm in rotation about the Earth with the pivot point about the Earth’s axis propelled by a motor of one revolution per minute. Next, paint the hemisphere that would face the Earth and mark a reference line parallel. Now mount the Moon to a duplicate motor that makes one revolution per minute on that rigid arm. Observation reveals the Moon revolves about the earth completing a circular orbit and it does rotate in relation to the rigid arm, which is the point of reference associated with the axis of the Moon. As the rotation cycle occurs all points on the object (in this case the Moon) would been seen on Earth a one time or another with a rotation of 360 degrees about its north-south axis away from the imaginary line representing the rigid arm or line connecting the axis of the Moon and the Earth. This event rotation or a 360 degree spin about its own axis does not occur in the perceived orbit of the Moon. Gravity turns the direction of the Moon in a constant curve by centripetal force, which is responsible for completing a circular orbit. For example, if you were to examine a reference point on the equator of the Earth, which does rotate about its axis, all points along the equator become visible to the Sun. It does not matter, whether the rotational period of the Earth is approximately 24 hours or one year. If the Earth did not rotate only point on the equator would remain closest to the Sun. thus locking one side of the Earth in perpetual light and heat. The other side would be cold and dark. The Moon lost its ability to revolve eons ago when its core harden. As pressure and zone differentials inside the Moon’s core equalized, its internal spin ceased to drive the surface crust of the Moon to revolve about its north-south axis. This is the present state of the Moon, as inertia and internal drivers are now absent. Where mankind gets confused is the reference axis used to examine rotational motion. For those who state the Moon does rotates about the Earth, they have made the mistake of using the earth's axis as the reference point for rotation. The only point of reference for rotation of the Moon is its own axis, which does not spin. The Moon' forward motion takes on a elliptical path about the reference axis of the Earth, but its face, which we see all the time always stays 90 degrees off to the left to this motion.

The current views and theories states the Moon rotates once about its axis for every orbit around the Earth. Here is a quote from a well respected astronomy website "Bad Astronomy" that has just won the 2004 Scientific American science & technology web award.

Now advance 4 years and how views have changed, the Discovery Channel has done a documentary on extra solar planets and presented a planet locked by gravity where rotation of the planet does not occur. So the sun lock steps with the planet and the same face of the planet shows. Let's move forward.

"How it works: If you go out on several different nights and look at the Moon, you will always see the same features, at about the same position. It looks as if the Moon doesn't rotate! Ah, but it does.

This can be seen using a model. Grab two oranges (or apples, or baseballs, or whatever roughly spherical objects you have handy). Mark one with an "X"; this represents a feature on the Moon. Now put the other one down on a table; this is the Earth. Place the Moon model on the table about 30 centimeters (one foot) away with the X facing the Earth model. Now move the Moon model as if it were orbiting the Earth, taking care to make sure that the X faces the Earth model at all times.

Surprise! You'll see that to keep the X facing the Earth model, you have to rotate the Moon model as it goes around the Earth model. Furthermore, you can see you have to spin it exactly once every orbit to keep the X facing the Earth model. If you don't rotate it, the Moon model will show all of its "sides" to the Earth model as it goes around.

Now, I have been a bit tricky here. We are talking about two different frames of reference; one on the surface of the Earth looking out at the Moon, and one outside the Earth-Moon system looking in. You performed the experiment from the latter frame, and saw the Moon rotating. From the former, however, you can see for yourself the Moon does not rotate. What is being argued here is that in one frame the Moon rotates, in another it does not.

We've actually learned three things:
# 1) the Moon rotates as it orbits the Earth (as seen by an outside observer);
# 2) it rotates one time for every orbit (to that observer); and
# 3) if it didn't rotate, we would eventually see all of the Moon as it orbited the Earth. "

Courtesy of *Bad Astronomy http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/moon_spin.html

*This website does not endorse or agree with anything written in the Grant Chronicles, but has in the past provided strong counter views on its forums from its members.

A Simplistic Model

A Description of Moon Rotation about its Axis

The first assumption that has to be dropped is the confusion over frame of reference. If the Moon was a railroad car and its orbital path its tracks, we realize the car is always turning towards the Earth and this is due to gravity. There is a different between a gravity induced curve path or orbit and rotational spin about an axis. The two are inherently different. Ask yourself does a car turn while driving a complete circle or complete one spin about its center during the same trip around the circle?

Lets consider a fresh approach to solving this problem.

In the lateral diagrams A is the reference point initial and will be assigned a location of zero degrees with measurements proceeding 360 degrees counter-clockwise to that point.

Diagram 1

In Diagram 1 we have setup the orbital path of the Moon around the Earth and designated the middle of the face of the Moon, which we see on most nights as reference point A for the extreme eastern part of the orbit. The Moon location in Earth orbit and point A will have the same initial value of 0 degrees and additional reference points will rotate counter-clockwise.

In the lateral diagrams A is still the reference point initial @ 0^oto the orbital path and point B is located @ 45^o counter-clockwise along the Moon’s circumference.

Diagram 2

In diagram 2 we begin to perceive the idea of rotational spin about the axis of the Moon while in orbital motion about the Earth. Here we have moved the position of the moon 45 degrees counter-clockwise along its orbital path. Point B represents a 45 degree movement of the axis in relation to the tangent line of the orbital path. Remember the motion or curved path is due to gravity affecting forward motion by turning not rotating.

In the lateral diagrams A is still the reference point initial @ 0^o, point B is located @ 90^o, point C is located @ 180^o and point D is located @ 270^o counter-clockwise along the Moon’s circumference.

Diagram 3

Finally here in Diagram 3 lets examine the designated points and equate their position to rotation about the Moon's axis in relation to one orbit. If point A reached point D @ 270 degrees in a 90 degree sweep or a quarter orbit, the Moon would spin about its axis 3 times at the completion of one orbit. If point A reached point C @ 180 degrees in a 90 degree sweep or a quarter orbit, the Moon would spin about its axis 2 times at the completion of one orbit. The key to math is continuity. Now if point A reached point B @ 90 degrees in a 90 degree sweep or a quarter orbit, the Moon would spin about its axis 1 time at the completion of one orbit. Point A is a point where no rotation about an axis occurs. Again point A maintains a perpendicular orientation to the tangent of the Moon's orbital path always and the orbital path contains the axis of the Moon.

Mankind's Theory on the Rotation of the Moon

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