Answer – Yes, the moon does rotate on its axis, but it does so so slowly that only one side of it is visible from Earth.
Explanation:
The moon takes a little over 27 days to complete one orbit around the Earth. It also takes approximately the same amount of time to complete one full rotation on its axis. This is a very slow rate of rotation, and as it is equal to the rate of revolution, it is called synchronous rotation.
It is due to synchronous rotation that only one side of the moon is ever visible from the surface of the Earth. This is its near side. The opposite side is its far side, and is frequently, though incorrectly, referred to as the “dark side” of the moon.
The rotation of the moon is also affected by the gravitational force that Earth exerts on it. The moon’s gravity affects tides on Earth, but as the moon does not have any large enough water bodies, the Earth’s gravity directly impacts its crust. Over time, this has resulted in a bulge on the moon called the tidal bulge.
This tidal bulge is on the near side of the moon’s surface, and has further slowed the satellite’s rotation. It also contributes to keeping this side of the moon facing towards Earth.
