Do We Ever See the Far Side of the Moon?

People on Earth do not see the far side of the Moon because that hemisphere of the Moon is always turned away from the Earth. The only people to have seen the far side of the moon are astronauts who have orbited it during space missions. The first glimpses of the far side of the Moon came from photographs taken by the unmanned Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959.

More Moon Over Miami Facts:

• The Moon has weak gravity, but is close enough to the Earth for the gravitational pull to cause tides in the Earth's oceans. The Moon is about 238,897 miles (384,467 kilometers) from the Earth, but is slowly moving farther away at a rate of about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) each year.


• The tidal forces are responsible for having slowed the rotation of the moon, resulting in the far side always facing away from Earth.


• Astronomers are interested in the far side of the Moon as a place for radio telescopes. Because that side of the moon isn't affected by Earthly radio transmissions, scientists could more easily gather unobstructed data. Before this can happen, however, scientists must find a way to protect equipment from lunar dust and solar flares.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't we see the far side of the Moon from Earth?

The Moon is tidally locked with Earth, meaning it rotates on its axis at the same rate that it orbits our planet. This synchronization causes only one hemisphere of the Moon, the near side, to face Earth at all times. The far side remains hidden from our direct view due to this unique orbital resonance.

Has the far side of the Moon ever been photographed?

Yes, the far side of the Moon was first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft in 1959. Since then, several missions, including NASA's Apollo program and more recent lunar orbiters, have provided detailed images of the far side, revealing a landscape with fewer maria and more craters compared to the near side.

Is the far side of the Moon dark?

No, the term "dark side" is a misnomer. The far side of the Moon experiences the same phases of sunlight as the near side. It receives approximately two weeks of sunlight followed by two weeks of darkness, just like the side facing Earth, due to the Moon's synchronous rotation and orbit around our planet.

Can we communicate directly with spacecraft on the far side of the Moon?

Direct communication with spacecraft on the far side of the Moon is not possible because the Moon's bulk blocks radio signals from Earth. However, relay satellites, such as those used in the Chang'e-4 mission, can transmit signals from the far side to Earth by acting as a bridge between the two.

What are the differences between the near side and the far side of the Moon?

The most striking difference is the surface composition. The near side has many dark, flat plains called maria, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, while the far side is heavily cratered and has a thicker crust. The far side also hosts one of the largest and oldest impact craters in the solar system, the South Pole-Aitken basin.

Has any country landed on the far side of the Moon?

China achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon with its Chang'e-4 mission in January 2019. The lander and its rover, Yutu-2, have been exploring the Von Kármán crater within the South Pole-Aitken basin, providing valuable scientific data about this uncharted lunar territory.