3 ms·

Forgive my ignorance, but if the moon orbits around the earth (ie not geostationary), how can the end of a line attached to the moon stay in one place above the

by dann0 7y ago

Forgive my ignorance, but if the moon orbits around the earth (ie not geostationary), how can the end of a line attached to the moon stay in one place above the earth?

Leo_Verto 7y ago
The moon is tidally locked to earth, meaning it rotates at such a speed that the same side is always facing earth. (This is also why the moon can have a "dark side") It usually takes millions of years of tidal forces from a planetary body acting upon its satellite for the latter to be tidally locked to the former.
- dann0 7y ago
  Thank you. I understand that part, but is the line supposed to be at the same point above the earth?
  - Tepix 7y ago
    No. It wanders around the earth every 28 days.