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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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Americo Powlowski

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1y ago
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14y ago

Years ago, it was believed that Mercury was synchronously tidally locked with the Sun, rotating once for each orbit and keeping the same face directed towards the Sun at all times .

However, further research in 1965, showed that Mercury is in a 3:2 spin orbit resonance, rotating three times for every two revolutions around the Sun.

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11y ago

This was believed to be true a few decades ago, but we now know it isn't so.

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Q: Why does the same side of mercury always face the sun?
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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.


Does the same side of Venus always face earth?

Yes. The moon is tidally locked to the earth, so that whether the moon is new, waxing, full, or waning, we always see the same side.


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.


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.


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 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.


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.


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

The Moon always faces the same side because its gravity with Earth makes it pull around us. When you see half of the Moon its because of the way Earth is rotating or how the Moon is positioned.