Is There a Dark Side of the Moon? Science Fiction

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Welcome to Science Fiction,

the show which explores the outer limits of the cosmos.

So that you don't have to - hm!

Knowles to BUD-E, do you read me?

Receiving you loud and clear, Doc. Today's question comes from...

Well, Liam, the dark side of the moon is a mysterious place

full of monsters and vampires, and dinosaurs...

Professor, don't be ridiculous!

The moon does not give off light, it reflects light from the sun.

A bit like this - look.

Ha-ha-ha!

As the moon orbits the Earth it also rotates on its own axis.

Which means that the moon is flying around the Earth

and spinning away mad at the same time.

It takes the moon roughly 29 and a half days to orbit the Earth.

That's where we get our months from. Fact.

And this is also the exact amount of time it takes

to complete one rotation on its axis.

So, you mean, like, by the time it's travelled around the Earth

-it'll have spun around once as well?

-Exactly!

And because of this unique relationship

we always see the same side of the Moon here on earth.

That's brilliant.

Oh, but come here though, Dr Knowles,

is the other side still all dark and full of monsters, so?

No, Professor,

the entire moon receives roughly the same amount of light all over.

So, if we were to travel to the far side of the moon

we'd see it lit up in exactly the same way.

Ha, that looks like a brilliant craic, I want to go there!

So, now you know how it works.

That whole myth about the dark side of the moon...

Sure, that's just a load of old science fiction!

Here, look at me, Dr Knowles, I learnt how to do the moonwalk.