Explanation:
No one on Earth sees the Moon rotate like this.
That's because the Moon is tidally locked in
synchronous rotation,
showing only one side to denizens of our fair planet.
Still, given
modern digital technology,
combined with many detailed images returned by the
Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO), a high resolution virtual
Moon rotation movie
can be composed.
In fact, the
featured time-lapse video
starts with a view of the
familiar lunar nearside and quickly finds the
Mare Orientale, a large crater with a dark
center that is difficult to see from the Earth,
rotating into view just below the equator.
In a complete lunar rotation
condensed into 24 seconds, the video clearly shows that the Earth-facing
nearside of
the Moon contains an abundance of
dark lunar maria,
while the lunar farside is dominated by bright
lunar highlands.
Of course, you can just join other moon-watchers
under hopefully clear skies tonight.
Check out the sunlit portion of the lunar nearside on
International Observe the Moon Night.
