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Martin Rattigan
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Why does the Moon keep the same face toward the Earth but the Earth not keep the same face toward the Sun?
The distance between the Moon and Earth plays a significant role in their relationship with the Sun. This is because the distance affects the strength of the gravitational pull between the three bodies. The closer an object is to the Sun, the stronger the gravitational pull it experiences. Therefore, the Moon's distance from the Earth affects its orbit around the Earth and its position in relation to the Sun.
The Moon's orbit around the Earth is elliptical, meaning it is not a perfect circle. This causes the Moon's distance from the Earth and the Sun to vary throughout its orbit. When the Moon is closer to the Sun, it experiences a stronger gravitational pull and appears larger in the sky. When it is farther away, the gravitational pull is weaker and the Moon appears smaller. This is why we have different phases of the Moon, as it reflects different amounts of sunlight depending on its position in its orbit.
The Earth's tilt is the reason for the changing seasons on our planet. When the Earth is tilted towards the Sun, the Sun's rays hit the Earth more directly, resulting in warmer temperatures and longer days. When the Earth is tilted away from the Sun, the rays hit at an angle, causing cooler temperatures and shorter days. This tilt also affects the Moon's relationship with the Sun, as it changes the amount of sunlight the Moon reflects back to Earth.
The Moon's lack of atmosphere means it has no protection from the Sun's radiation. This results in extreme temperature differences on the Moon's surface, with temperatures reaching up to 260°F (127°C) during the day and dropping to -280°F (-173°C) at night. This lack of atmosphere also means the Moon has no weather, so there are no clouds or wind to regulate the temperature. This has a direct impact on the Moon's relationship with the Sun and its ability to sustain life.
The Moon has a smaller impact on the Earth's tides compared to the Sun because of its smaller mass. While the Moon is much closer to the Earth than the Sun, it only has about 1/81 the mass of the Sun. The Sun's gravitational pull on the Earth is about 178 times stronger than the Moon's, which is why the Sun has a greater influence on the tides. However, the Moon's closer proximity to the Earth means it still has a significant impact on the tides, causing them to change twice a day.