At some point in your life you have probably come across some reference to the Hidden Side of the Moon, after all, it is an expression widely used in culture. Whether in movies, for example Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and also in the world of music, such as in the full album by Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. Although this album is a reference to the dark side of the human being, and not the moon itself.
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The Dark Side of the Moon
Although it may seem like it, the far side of the moon has no reference to the illumination received by the satellite. This name has no reference to whether or not part of the moon receives sunlight. In fact, both sides of the Moon receive light from the Sun at the same rate.
The Hidden Side, then, is nothing more than the part of the moon that is not visible here on Earth, not a part that does not receive light. In fact, the entire Moon is dark since it does not produce its own light, “its” light is a reflection of the light received by the Sun.
So “hidden” is a better word to describe this side of the satellite than the dark or dark side. But why does this happen?
moon movements
The Moon has three main movements, which are linked to the moon phases and also why some of it is never visible here on Earth. They are:
- Rotation: The rotation movement is the movement in which the moon makes around its own axis, just like the Earth, this movement is responsible for creating the effects of day and night.
- Revolution: the movement of revolution is what the moon does around the earth, in the same way that the earth does around the sun.
- Translation: it is the movement that the Moon makes along with the entire solar system, around the Sun movement responsible for the "years".
It rotates as much around itself as it does around the Earth and the Sun, so why isn't one side of it visible to us? What makes the same Earth surface visible here on Earth is an effect called synchronized rotation.
Synchronized Rotation
It is a so-called phenomenon in which the Moon's rotation time is the same as its orbital period, that is, its period of Revolution. As the Moon rotates around its own axis, at the same speed as it rotates around the Earth, we have the feeling that it does not rotate, because the same side always faces the planet.
What “hides” the Dark Side of the Moon?
As can be seen in the image at the beginning of this article, the Hidden Side of the Moon does not have anything special, although it presents relative differences in relation to the known side. In addition to having more craters from impacts suffered. And it has fewer “seas”, which are the dark plains formed by meteorite impacts on the satellite's surface.
Conspiracy theories
Over the years, many conspiracy theories regarding the far side of the moon have emerged, which is very well addressed in the field of culture. But that often ends up extrapolating and many people faithfully believe that it is a truth and not fiction.
It is widely believed that the dark side of the moon has an alien base. Far beyond that, they believe that these aliens were the big reason it took so long to covet astronauts to the moon again.
Others believe that it is a secret government base, in cinematic style. But what about you, what do you believe lurks in the hidden part of the moon? Comment!
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