Why the moon is different for a month

The movement of the Moon around the planet Earth in orbit takes about a month. In addition, it also moves around its axis. This process takes slightly more than 27 days. Since the motion along the orbit and the rotation around its axis takes place simultaneously, the Moon is always directed towards the Earth by one side.

By itself, the moon does not shine like the sun. Only it seems that it shines, but in fact it only reflects the sunlight. As the Moon moves around the planet, the sunlight falls on its different parts. This is the answer to the question: "Why is the moon different?". Periodically, we see the fully illuminated surface of the satellite, and from time to time only its part is illuminated. Therefore, it seems to us that the Moon changes its form. But this is only the transformation of the luminary - the phases that say that we see its various parts.

Moon phases, or why the moon is different

The first lunar phase is the new moon. At its moment, the luminary is between the Sun and the Earth. Such a moon is not visible to us. Then comes the phase of the growing moon, at which its side is illuminated by sunlight. This part of it looks like a thin piece of a circle.

Very soon, the side of the Moon, on which the Sun falls, grows and becomes a semicircle. And this lasts until the Moon reaches the last quarter, then the cycle ends and starts all over again.

Earth and Moon

The movement of the Earth around its axis coincides with the periods of the Moon's rotation, or is it just the gravitational impact of one celestial body on another? The answer to this question was sought by many inquisitive minds.

It is established that after all gravitation becomes the cause of this position of celestial bodies. We all know what the tides are that regularly appear in the oceans and raise water a few meters.

And the question "why the moon is different" has a simple answer: The earth from different directions is differently subjected to the lunar attraction. The side that is turned towards the satellite is more exposed than the opposite.

As a result, various parts of the Earth move in the direction of the side at different speeds. The surface, which is directed toward the Moon, swells, in the center the Earth moves less, and the opposite surface completely lags behind, forming a hump. The Earth's crust is reluctant to change shape, and on land tidal forces are imperceptible. In the sea, under the influence of the satellite, tidal humps are formed on different sides of the planet.

As the Earth rotates, it turns to the Moon with its different sides, as a result, the tidal hump also moves along its surface. That's why the moon is different.

Scientists have calculated that a billion years ago, the Moon was located much closer to the planet Earth. At this time in the day was only 20 hours. Only a few days it took the Moon to go around the Earth, and therefore the tides were more pronounced. With time, the satellite's motion slows down, and in five billion years the Earth will rotate so slowly that it will itself be turned to the Moon by only one side, and in the year will be only 9 days, not 365. In a year, the satellite of the Earth will make nine turns. Therefore, in a year there will be not 12 months, as now, but only 9, and in each there will be only one day.