Lunar missions have helped scientists track the motion of the moon. What have they discovered about it’s motion?
the last one
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What last one the moon revolves around both the earth and the sun???
I need this answer to. Here is the whole question:
Lunar missions have helped scientists track the motion of the moon. What have they discovered about its motion?(1 point)
The moon is moving closer to Earth and will collide with it fairly soon.
The moon is moving away from Earth and will leave Earth’s orbit fairly soon.
The moon is moving closer to Earth and will collide with it a very long time from now.
The moon is moving away from Earth and will leave Earth’s orbit a very long time from now.
The motion of the moon has been extensively studied through lunar missions, and scientists have made several significant discoveries about it. Here are some of the key findings:
1. Tidal Locking: One of the most notable discoveries is that the moon is tidally locked with the Earth, meaning that it always shows the same face towards our planet. This was determined by analyzing the photographs taken during various missions, such as the Apollo missions and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). By tracking the motion of lunar landmarks and mapping the surface, scientists confirmed this phenomenon.
2. Libration: Although the moon is tidally locked to Earth, it exhibits a slight wobble or oscillation known as libration. This means that we can observe about 59% of the moon's surface over time, thanks to this small motion. By studying high-resolution images and tracking the positions of specific features, scientists have been able to precisely characterize this motion.
3. Lunar Orbit: Lunar missions have provided accurate measurements of the moon's orbit around the Earth. By tracking the positions of spacecraft in lunar orbit, scientists determined that the moon's orbit is elliptical rather than a perfect circle, with the distance between the Earth and moon varying during each lunar month.
4. Precession: Another significant discovery is that the moon undergoes a slow rotational motion called lunar precession. This means that the orientation of the moon's axis changes over time. By studying data from multiple missions and analyzing the motion of lunar features, scientists have been able to precisely measure the rate and magnitude of this precession.
Overall, lunar missions have provided vital data that has greatly enhanced our understanding of the moon's motion and its relationship with Earth. These findings have enabled scientists to create accurate mathematical models and improve our knowledge of celestial mechanics.