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When speaking of things having to do with the moon, the adjective ''lunar'' is used. The Greek-derived prefix ''seleno-'' is used as well; for example, the science of mapping the moon is called [[selenography]].

When speaking of things having to do with the moon, the adjective ''lunar'' is used. The Greek-derived prefix ''seleno-'' is used as well; for example, the science of mapping the moon is called [[selenography]].

Scientists speculate that the gravitational force of the Moon causes the ocean [[tides]]; these tidal forces have other effects as well. These tidal forces have the effect of creating resistance which slows down the rotation of both objects. In the case of the Earth, the result is that the Earth's rotation slows on the order of one millisecond per century. In the case of the Moon, over time the Moon has entirely lost its rotation relative to the Earth. The Moon's rotation is now locked in to its period of revolution, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

The gravitational force of the Moon causes the ocean [[tides]]; these tidal forces have other effects as well. These tidal forces have the effect of creating resistance which slows down the rotation of both objects. In the case of the Earth, the result is that the Earth's rotation slows on the order of one millisecond per century. In the case of the Moon, over time the Moon has entirely lost its rotation relative to the Earth. The Moon's rotation is now locked in to its period of revolution, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

The phrase "''dark'' side of the Moon" is inaccurate because the Moon does rotate relative to the Sun, with the same period as its period of revolution, once every 29 days. Our view of the Moon from the Earth always shows the same side of the Moon, with the same markings and features. When the Moon is full, the entire side that faces us is experiencing lunar "day" and is lit by the Sun. Two weeks later, when the Moon is new, the side that faces us is experiencing solar "night" and is unlit (and virtually invisible).

The phrase "''dark'' side of the Moon" is inaccurate because the Moon does rotate relative to the Sun, with the same period as its period of revolution, once every 29 days. Our view of the Moon from the Earth always shows the same side of the Moon, with the same markings and features. When the Moon is full, the entire side that faces us is experiencing lunar "day" and is lit by the Sun. Two weeks later, when the Moon is new, the side that faces us is experiencing solar "night" and is unlit (and virtually invisible).

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|During recent history the Moon has had roughly same size as the [[Sun]] when viewed from Earth.  This creates a situation which permits phenomenal solar eclipses to occur. The odds of this symmetry occurring by chance are very small, and surely indicate the Intelligent Design behind the Universe. The symmetry will not last forever.

|During recent history the Moon has had roughly same size as the [[Sun]] when viewed from Earth.  This creates a situation which permits phenomenal solar eclipses to occur. The odds of this symmetry occurring by chance are very small. The symmetry will not last forever.

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|The Moon presents the same side to Earth at all times.  That means that the rotation of the Earth offsets the separate effects of the revolution of the Moon. Physicists explain this phenomenon by [[tidal locking]]; tidal forces on Earth caused a bulge on the Moon, thereby creating a drag on the rotation of the Moon until its same face always presents to the Earth, yet more proof that God created the Moon.  It was once believed that the planet [[Mercury]] had a similar locked rotation due to gravitational forces from the sun, such that the same side of Mercury always faces the sun. In fact, Mercury's tidal locking is incomplete; it does not always present the same face to the sun.   

|The Moon presents the same side to Earth at all times.  That means that the rotation of the Earth offsets the separate effects of the revolution of the Moon. Physicists explain this phenomenon by [[tidal locking]]; tidal forces on Earth caused a bulge on the Moon, thereby creating a drag on the rotation of the Moon until its same face always presents to the Earth.  It was once believed that the planet [[Mercury]] had a similar locked rotation due to gravitational forces from the sun, such that the same side of Mercury always faces the sun. In fact, Mercury's tidal locking is incomplete; it does not always present the same face to the sun.   

Current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape, though accounting for greater tidal forces in the past may explain this discrepancy.<ref>http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM</ref>

Current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape, though accounting for greater tidal forces in the past may explain this discrepancy.<ref>http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM</ref>