Why can't you see the far side of the Moon?

From Earth, you can only see one side of the Moon. This is because of the way the Moon spins as it orbits the Earth. The side that faces Earth is named the near side of the Moon. The other half of the Moon (that half of a sphere that always faces away from Earth) is called the far side of the Moon.

In 1959, Russia sent the Luna 3 spacecraft to the Moon. It took a picture of the far side of the Moon. Then in 1968 on Christmas eve, three men, Borman, Lovell, and Anders saw the far side of the moon with their own eyes as their Apollo 8 spacecraft orbited the Moon.

Anders described the far side of the Moon as being the color of dirty beach sand. He also saw a land that was full of craters.

Why can't you see the far side of the Moon?

From Earth, you can only see one side of the Moon. A long time ago the Earth's gravity slowed the Moon's spin. The Moon now rotates once as it orbits the Earth, so that the same side (the same half of a sphere) always faces the Earth. So we on Earth see the near side, and the far side always faces away from us.

Many people thought that there might be strange mysteries on the far side of the Moon (aliens maybe?). In 1959, Russia's Luna 3 reached the Moon. It returned the first picture of the far side of the Moon. Then in 1968 on Christmas eve, three men, Borman, Lovell, and Anders saw the far side of the moon with their own eyes as their Apollo 8 spacecraft orbited the Moon.

Anders described the far side as being the color of dirty beach sand. He also saw a land that was full of craters, but no aliens!

Why can't you see the far side of the Moon?

From Earth, you can only see one side of the Moon. This side is termed the near side of the Moon. Is it thought that long ago when the Moon was still in formation, the Earth's gravity slowed the Moon's spin. The Moon now rotates once as it orbits the Earth, allowing for the same side to always face the Earth so that the far side remains a mystery to any Earth-bound observer.

Many people speculated that there were strange mysteries on the far side of the Moon (black monoliths maybe?). In 1959, Russia's spacecraft Luna 3 left the Earth and headed to the Moon. It returned the first picture of the far side. Then in 1968 on Christmas eve, three men, Borman, Lovell, and Anders saw the far side of the moon with their own eyes as their Apollo 8 spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon.

Anders was a bit disappointed with what he saw that Christmas eve. His description of the far side of the Moon was that it was the color of dirty beach sand and that the landscape was of unrelenting sameness - crater upon crater, hill upon battered hill.

Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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