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From: jlg@a.UUCP (Jim Giles)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,sci.space
Subject: Re: Moon or Mars? Editorial in _Air & Space Smithsonian_
Message-ID: <556@a.UUCP>
Date: 4 Apr 88 06:46:48 GMT
References: <47032@sun.uucp> <1290@hubcap.UUCP>
Organization: Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos, N.M.
Lines: 16
Summary: Dark side of moon


The moon always has the same face toward the earth.  That is, it rotates
with the same period as it orbits the earth.  The 'far' side of the moon
was therefore often called the 'dark' side because it was unknown to 
human experience until spacecraft went there.  The term is similar to the
use of 'dark' with respect to Africa (it wasn't a racial slur but a reference
to the fact that much of the African contenent was unknown to europeans even
to the beginning of this century).  Just as Africa is still often called the
'dark contenent', people also still often refer to the 'dark side' of the
moon.

It is true that a base on the far side of the moon woud be a reasonable place toconduct radio astronomy because the moon would block all the earth-based
radio noise.  Many astronomers feel that such a moon base would be a much
more important goal than manned trips to Mars.

J.L.G.