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The dark side of the Moon is the side facing Earth, the side we always see.
The near side is as dark as asphalt pavement, except during the near-full moon when crystalline back scatter boosts reflection. Amateur astronomers can measure the Moon's albedo during various phases and see the difference on instruments. However, the human eye tends to ignore absolute brightness and notice contrast.
Much of this low albedo is due to the widespread basaltic lava out-flow that filled the lower elevations on the near side. Part is due to the nature of collision scattering that has spread tiny fragments of the lava onto brighter, higher areas of the near side.
The far side of the moon has a much thicker crust and, in spite of the more intense meteoric bombardment, has retained the brighter color of that crust.
Historically, the word "dark" was, among other meanings, a synonym of "unknown". Perhaps you have heard the puzzling phrase "darkest Africa", which just says that the (European) speaker and listener knew nothing about that part of the African continent. In that sense, the far side of the moon was historically described that way.
I believe that most readers can understand that the the far side of the Moon has a day/night cycle, just like the near side obviously has, and the Earth has. Therefore, few people spoke of the far side as in perpetual night, but in the old sense, as unknown.
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∙ 9y ago
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When was Return to the Dark Side of the Moon created?
Return to the Dark Side of the Moon was created in 2005.
When was The Dark Side of the Moon - film - created?
The Dark Side of the Moon - film - was created in 1990.
Which side is the so called dark side of the moon?
right side of the moon
Which side of the moon do you see from earth?
The "near" side of the moon is the side that always faces Earth. The "far" side of the moon can only be seen from space. The dark side of the moon is the title of a Pink Floyd album. There is no side of the moon that is always dark.
Why is there a light and dark side on the moon?
The moon is spherical and is lit by the sun. Only the side facing the sun can be lit by the sun. The other side is dark. If you were to stand on the moon you would find that the light side of the moon is experiencing day while the dark side is experiencing night.
Is the earths moon too cold or too hot to have liquid?
both On the dark side water freezes and on the light side it would boil off.
Is there life on the dark side of moon?
There is no life anywhere on the moon - light or dark side.
When the moon is On the side of earths opposite the sun?
full moon
What lives on the dark side of the moon?
Nothing. There is no life on the moon, dark side or light side.
What color is the dark side of the moon?
There is no dark side, the moon is similar in colours all over its surface.
When was Return to the Dark Side of the Moon created?
Return to the Dark Side of the Moon was created in 2005.
When was The Dark Side of the Moon created?
The Dark Side of the Moon was created on 1973-03-01.
When was From the Dark Side of the Moon created?
From the Dark Side of the Moon was created on 2011-05-10.
Who was dark side of the moon by?
'Dark Side of the Moon' was an album by the rock group Pink Floyd
When was The Dark Side of the Moon - film - created?
The Dark Side of the Moon - film - was created in 1990.
What was the dark side of the moon?
This is an uneducated way of referring to the far side of the moon. But the far side isn't always dark.
Is the Moon's dark side the far side?
No. The far side of the moon is usually partially illuminated by the sun and is only completely dark during the full moon. The far side of the moon is fully lit during the new moon phase. It is called the "dark" side of the moon because we never see it.
