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Due to libration, a slight "wobble" in the lunar motion, we actually see a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface; sometimes it is turned a bit one way and sometimes the other. However, nobody had any idea of what the far side of the Moon looked like until 1959, when a Soviet satellite photographed it and relayed pictures back. Not surprisingly, it turned out to look a lot like near side.   

Due to libration, a slight "wobble" in the lunar motion, we actually see a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface; sometimes it is turned a bit one way and sometimes the other. However, nobody had any idea of what the far side of the Moon looked like until 1959, when a Soviet satellite photographed it and relayed pictures back. Not surprisingly, it turned out to look a lot like near side.   

The months of the Muslim calendar are determined by observations of the [[hilal]], the moment at which the thin crescent moon first becomes visible. This marks the start of a month. The hilal is determined by actual observation. \

The months of the Muslim calendar are determined by observations of the [[hilal]], the moment at which the thin crescent moon first becomes visible. This marks the start of a month. Traditionally, and today in Pakistan and Jordan, hilal is determined by actual observation, it can be affected by weather and other factors. When following the traditional method, it is not actually possible to be certain of when future months will begin. In most Muslim countries, actual observation has been replaced by astronomical rules.

==Unusual characteristics of the Moon==

==Unusual characteristics of the Moon==