The Moon. Motion and phases of the Moon

Exploration of the Moon

The Moon has been the subject of human exploration. In 1969, the Apollo 11 mission brought the first astronauts to walk on the lunar surface, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to set foot on the Moon. Over the years, several space missions have conducted scientific investigations on the Moon, collecting samples of lunar rocks and conducting studies on their composition and origin.

Motion of the Moon. Rotation and translation of the Moon

Motion of the Moon is the result, as in the case of the Earth, of the two main motions of rotation and translation of the Moon.

Rotation of the Moon. The Moon rotates on its own axis approximately once every 27.3 days. This is its period of rotation.

Translation of the Moon. At the same time, the Moon orbits the Earth in a similar period of about 27.3 days (sidereal month).

Because the Moon’s rotation and translation periods are nearly equal (a motion called synchronous rotation), the Moon always shows the same side to the Earth, while its opposite side, known as the “hidden side of the Moon,” remains invisible from our perspective.

In addition to the Moon’s rotational and translational motions, the Moon is gradually moving away from the Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year due to tidal energy transfer.