The Rotation of the Moon

 

   The Brief: Today’s astronomers explain the Moon’s rotation about its axis with one side visible to Earth. The theory states, the moon spins about its axis in synchronization with its orbital period 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. We examine this theory to address the truth behind this hypothesis or present a new solution.

   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 won the 2004 Scientific American science & technology web award.

  

"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.

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 examine the current status quo for Moon rotation

   Currently the status quo within the field of Astronomy is that the Moon spins about its axis in a period equal to a rotational period around Earth. So lets looks at the frame of reference used in current theories within the field of Astronomy that has backed this conclusion. When scientists concluded the axis is the Moon rotated, this is true, but it was the frame of reference used, which is the source of confusion. The frame used was one that included the rotational path of the Moon with the Earth as the pivot point of rotation. Within in this frame of reference, the Moon follows its rotational path as gravity turns the direction of motion of the Moon inward maintaining orbital distance and any reference on the surface of the Moon changes direction by 360 degrees with the frame in relation to the Earth. The problem the Moon rotation that those who formulated this theory, is that they confused completing a curved path of rotation where points of an object do change in relation to others in an expanded reference frame. The frame of reference used for rotational spin contains only the object itself. The definition of spin about an axis is the object must complete 1 rotation about its axis within the frame no matter what motion the frame itself takes on. If you have a stick, attach a line to one of its ends about a pivot point and connect the other end through the center of the ball and tie off. Revolve the ball about you, but the ball does spin about its axis? How could it, it is attached to a string. You do see the same face of the ball as it revolves about the holder of the stick. You can validate that a point on the ball when you include yourself and the ball's curved path, does change its position within the greater frame, but the ball itself does not spin about its axis. Spin is a relationship between a frame of reference that contains only the object in question  and its rotation about a set point within that frame. It is not the motion of the total frame of reference as an object revolves in a circular path around a pivot point the Earth in this case giving the illusion of spin about the axis, when it is a change position due to rotation. Are you confusing motion of an object following a curved path as oppose to spin about its axis? I hope you answered no. So why do you use the same of conditions and principles to validate the Moon's rotation about the Earth and to validate the moon's spin about its axis are in perfect synchronization?

 

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 @ 0o to the orbital path and point B is located @ 45o 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 @ 0o, point B is located @ 90o, point C is located @ 180o and point D is located @ 270o 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.

Explanation of Frames of Reference

   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. Here is an experiment that can be conducted in your elementary astronomy labs. First the definition of rotation about its axis: when an object rotates 360 degrees about its central point within a set reference field. A set up a simple clear rigid plastic square sheet drill a hole in its center and suspend an attached sphere at its central axis with a string and the other end to the hole. Draw a straight reference between both points in which the rotational axis pierces the surface of the sphere and follows its curved surface. As a reference, mark a point on the perimeter of the square establishing as a lineup for the minimum distance between the line drawn between the axis of the suspended sphere and the marked point. Rotational spin within the grid is defined as the axis line moving away from the reference point and returning to the reference point in the same direction. Absence of rotation, the points of the axis line and grid reference remain aligned. Now attach a rigid rod to the frame of reference, if we move the grid away a point of origin at a set speed in a straight line does the parameters for rotation within the grid change as we view it while holding the grid away perpendicular to our motion? No. The next condition is for you move grid  forward along a curved path and observing  a reference of no rotation the points maintain alignment within the grid. When spin is applied and the sphere rotates 360 degrees in the same direction, if you move the grid forward along a curved path, you observe the sphere rotates. Again as you notice the sphere with no rotation, you constantly see the reference point and the axis line locked. If it spins you see all sides of the sphere. Now if you hold the grid and turn in an arc about a rigid point if the is no spin you constantly see the reference point and axis line. Apply a spin of 1 rotation you see all sides. If during that time you also pivoted 360 degrees about the same point you still observed all sides of the sphere during the turn. Looking at the total picture we find that a sphere with no rotation when pivoting about a point presents the same view of the reference point and axis line. In the second part when the speed of the rotation of the sphere to completes 1 rotation within the grid was matched to pivoting about 360 degrees in synchronization you still see all sides. Now realize the Moon is the sphere within the grid and the pivot point is Earth does this change the observations? No.  Can astronomers present a simple experiment with models that backs the how Moon rotates? If so, I have many examples where the same mistake was made over and over again. The have 1 moon match its rotational period is rare, but many in the same location with varied periods would go against the greatest odds, but check some of the moons of Jupiter & Saturn and the impossible happens. We should finally move on. 

Now Questions?

If the Moon does not rotate, can you present a new concept of what is responsible for planetary or stellar rotation?

   A simple illustration of what is responsible for rotation of a cosmic object with a fluid inner core can be shown with an egg example, not that an egg has anything to do with spin about an axis, but it will demonstrate the basic principle. In the universe, movement is about rotation being driven by the rotation frictional force from the inner core driving the shell or crust, not because of compression of matter invoking conservation of energy thus increasing rotational spin about the axis. Although this concept is true during formation of the object just after a localized big bang, but over time movement stabilizes the shell, its liquid interior is still subject inequalities of the neighboring gravitational and magnetic influences. This constant attraction, resultant spin, overshoot, and attraction again is the basis for fluid inner core rotation.  The fluid core of a planet is affected by universal gravitational and magnetic forces, the attempt for equalization results in a spinning core. The rotating core has a frictional coefficient where its torque a product of rotational spin and mass, the surface area of the core related to the dependent mass of the shell or crust translates into stellar or planetary rotational periods. For an experiment spin an egg to represent the forces affecting planetary cores. Stop it for a fractional second, then let the egg go. The core which is spinning will drag the shell, thus rotation or in the case of a planet, its crust. This is rudimentary example explaining the principles of rotation in planetary and stellar objects.

Change comes about with a fresh start.

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Mankind's Theory on the Rotation of the Moon

 

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