Astronomy Picture of the Day . The Far Side of the Moon . ... 25.02.2007 . ... Credit: Apollo 16 Crew , NASA Explanation: Does this moon look familiar? ... Locked in synchronous rotation, the Moon always presents its well-known near side to Earth. But from lunar orbit, Apollo astronauts also grew to know the Moon's far side. This sharp picture from Apollo 16 's mapping camera shows the eastern edge of the familiar near side (top) and the strange and heavily cratered far side of the Moon. ...