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To: Rebel_Ace
How many moons of other planets do that?
24 posted on 06/05/2014 1:44:44 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government." --Tacitus)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The same thing happens with Mercury, which always has the same side facing the sun.


43 posted on 06/05/2014 2:05:06 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (I'd give up chocolate but I'm no quitter)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
"...How many moons of other planets do that?..."

By "do that" I assume you mean have an orbital period equal to its rotational period.

Countless bodies do that. It is a consequence of imperfect, "lumpy" planetary bodies, which greatly magnify the effects of "tidal friction".

Since the Moon and Earth are NOT perfect spheres, there are "lumps" which produce a slightly larger tidal influence when they happen to line up.

Orbit after orbit, as these "lumps" align, the rotational speed of the body slows, until the "lumps" stay in alignment.

Since the Moon is much less massive than the Earth, the Moon has slowed quicker, but each day on Earth, when Earth's "lumpy" side is facing the Moon, a teeny-tiny tidal brake is applied, slowing the Earth. Eventually, both the Earth and Moon will share the same rotational and orbital period with respect to each other.

Other planets and moons are tidally locked with their larger counterparts, it is quite common, and easily explained with resorting to any supernatural forces.
57 posted on 06/05/2014 2:55:55 PM PDT by Rebel_Ace (Tags?!? Tags?!? We don' neeeed no stinkin' Tags!)
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