Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!udel!princeton!idacrd!mac
From: mac@idacrd.UUCP (Robert McGwier)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: orbiting bodies
Message-ID: <804@idacrd.UUCP>
Date: 6 Nov 90 15:29:05 GMT
References: <129@ctbilbo.UUCP>
Organization: idacrd, princeton, nj
Lines: 33

From article <129@ctbilbo.UUCP>, by pete@ctbilbo.UUCP (Pete Ritter):
> 
> Does the Moon rotate about its axis (or any other) as it orbits the Earth?
>

	Yes otherwise the moon (up to libration, nutation, etc.) would
change its face to the earth.

 
> If a non geo-stationary orbiting body always presents the same face to
> the Earth, does it rotate about its axis (or any other) as it orbits?
> 

A spacecraft in orbit without spin appears to rotate as it changes its
position in orbit.  The only way for a spacecraft in <ANY> orbit to
constantly present the same face to you the ground based observer is
to have a spinning. This spinning could get quite complicated if
the orbit is not circular, not geostationary, and you are not at the
center of the earth ;-).


> Does a geo-stationary satellite which always presents the same face to
> its primary rotate about its axis (or any other) as it orbits?
> 
>

	Answered above.
Bob
-- 
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    My opinions are my own no matter	|	Robert W. McGwier, N4HY
    who I work for! ;-)			|	CCR, AMSAT, etc.
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