The far side of the Moon is the hemisphere that always faces away from Earth. Due to tidal locking—a gravitational effect between the Earth and the Moon—the same side of the Moon constantly faces our planet, leaving the far side hidden from direct view.
Why Can't We See It?
Tidal locking causes the Moon's rotation period to match its orbital period around Earth (about 27.3 days). This synchronization means we only ever observe one face of the Moon from Earth.
Myth: "Dark Side"
Often mistakenly called the "dark side," the far side receives just as much sunlight as the near side. The term "dark" historically referred to its unknown nature—not lack of light.
Exploration
The first images of the far side were captured by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3 in 1959. Since then, missions like NASA’s Apollo program and China’s Chang’e 4 (which landed there in 2019) have greatly expanded our understanding of this mysterious region.
Scientific Importance
The far side is shielded from Earth’s radio noise, making it an ideal location for radio astronomy. Its unique geology—thicker crust, fewer maria—also offers clues about the Moon’s formation and early history.