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This used to be believed, but we now realise it is not so. Mercury rotates 3 times for every 2 orbits of the Sun.

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Does mercury demonstrate gravitational locking?

No. Mercury was once believed to be tidally locked to the sun, meaning it rotates once for every orbit so that the same side always faces the sun. Closer observation found that Mercury is not tidally locked.


How many orbits around the Sun must Mercury make before the same face is lit by the Sun?

Mercury takes about 59 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun. It also takes about 88 Earth days for Mercury to rotate on its axis, which is slightly more than one Mercury year. Therefore, Mercury would have to go through more than one orbit (at least 1.5 orbits) for the same face to be fully illuminated by the Sun again.


Why do astronomers on earth always see the same side of the moon?

15 days one side 15 days other No it's always the same face. Because the moon spins on its axis exactly once per its orbit of the earth. It's a tidal friction effect. In zillions of year's time the same face of the earth will always face the moon also.


Why does the same side of the moon always face Earth?

The same side of the moon always faces Earth because of a phenomenon called synchronous rotation. This means that the moon's rotation period is the same as its orbital period around Earth, causing one side to always be facing us.


Why does the same side of the moon always face the Earth?

The same side of the moon always faces the Earth because of a phenomenon called synchronous rotation. This means that the moon's rotation period is the same as its orbital period around the Earth, causing one side to always be facing us.


Why the moon always keeps the same face?

It has a 1 to 1 rotation/revolution. it does turn on an axis but it turns as its revolving so earth always sees the same side.


Do people of different side of globe see same face of moon?

Yes. The moon spins at just the right speed so that the same face always faced the Earth.


Why do you always see one face of the moon Do all countries see the same face?

The moon does not rotate so on Earth we always see the same side no matter where the observer is.


Why is mercury so cold in certain spots when its so close to the sun?

Because Mercury is what's called a "one-face" planet: It doesn't rotate around its own axis. So one side of Mercury always faces the Sun, and is hot -- and the other side always faces away, and is cold. As there's no atmostphere to speak of, there's no convection either.


Why do you see the same side of the moon every day?

The moon rotates in the same direction as its orbit. The rate of rotation is such that the same face is always pointing at the earth.


How many Earth days is it for Mercury to Rotate once?

earth is the only plantet that can rotate. All planets rotate. In the case of mercury its rotation period exactly equals its year (about 88 earth days) so that one unchanging side faces the sun for the same reason (strong tidal effects) that the same face of the moon always faces the earth.


Is the near side(facing earth) always the dark side?

We on earth always see the same face of the moon, but the "dark side" of the moon is not always dark. For example, in a lunar eclipse, the back side of the moon is receiving all of the sunlight, while the side facing us receives none.