I am a native in this world And think in it as a native thinks

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Astronomy Tuesday


Gravity keeps our moon locked into a synchronous rotation with the Earth, so that we always see the same side of it. It may look upside down, depending on where we stand on this planet; it may be partly or totally in shadow, but the same familiar seas and craters are always there, keeping an eye on us whether we can see them or not.

This is the side we never see -- and that never sees us -- courtesy of the Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter. The craggy cratered surface really shows its age, compared to the relatively smooth Earth-facing side.

Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

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