this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2025
16 points (100.0% liked)
Melbourne
2026 readers
52 users here now
This community is a place created for the people of Melbourne and Victoria. We are a positive, welcoming and inclusive community. We might not agree about everything, but we always strive to stay civil and respectful.
The focus of our discussions is based around things that affect Victoria, but we are also free to discuss our local perspective on wider issues. Or head to the regular Daily Random Discussion thread to talk about anything.
Ongoing discussions, FAQs & Resources (still under construction)
Adoption Certificate for Nellie, the Daily Thread numbat (with thanks to @Catfish)
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Last night I learned that Pluto and Charon are tidally locked with each other, so Charon appears to not move in Pluto's sky.
Our moon is tidally locked with us, so it always shows us the same side, but it moves through the sky because Earth isn't tidally locked with it.
Mind blown π€―
The Brian Cox series on ABC has a bunch of interesting stuff about this. I think one of Jupiter's moon's moons isn't tidally locked to the moon itself, but another point in space of it's elliptical movement.
Then you can look up Alpha Centuri and the suns and planets that orbit each other
i love how we are in the position to literally look up at alpha centauri
I have been meaning to watch that!! I like Brian Cox and that show is right up my alley haha
Our moon is tidally locked with us, so it always shows us the same side, but it moves through the sky because Earth isnβt tidally locked with it.
For the non nerds but mildly curious this means that the moon spins at the same time that earth moves and that's the reason we don't see the dark side of the moon.
https://youtu.be/UGEJOowWzXo - animation of tidal locked Pluto and Charon
https://youtu.be/6jUpX7J7ySo - animation of moon tidal locked with earth :)
Oh no, you sent me to nerdville.
Seriously though I asked a few questions like this on Saturday night when we were drinking outside. tell me about (???) but in 25 words or less and in the most simplest form is always my requirement. Plus stubbies were involved in the demonstration. π