On Sep 10, 1:47*am, Sam Wormley wrote:
The Moon's North Pole
* *http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/61...n/photostream/


Here is what you do Sam before you instruct students.

Instead of trying to inflict a nonsensical intrinsic rotation on the
moon which requires variations in latitudinal speeds,explain to them
using imitation analogies why the lunar orbit of the Earth is not the
same as the planetary orbit around the Sun,in short,walk around a
central object while keeping the same face to it (lunar) or,using a
broom to substitute for daily rotation and orientation,why a planet
turns in a 360 cycle to the central Sun,something which is a 100 %
observational certainty -

http://astro.berkeley.edu/~imke/Infr..._2001_2005.jpg

The combined effect of the orbital motions of the moon and the Earth
around the Sun and the orbital motion of the moon around the Earth
resolved any observed effect hence libration is not intrinsic to the
motion of the moon ,but just like planetary retrogrades,are a
combination of motions belonging to both the Earth and the moon in
combination and as distinct motions.

Have I not treated you with respect Sam ?,there are any amount of
nuisances here in this forum who have lost the ability to accomplish
anything other than to try an diminish readers to their own condition
and level and I never much cared to engage in vitriol or bellylaughs
so they are best left to their own devices.How does anyone present a
formal rendering of the modification to orbital dynamics of the Earth
which influences such things as the distinction between lunar and
planetary orbits at a time when observers are all too quick to run to
the attributes of exoplanets and assign them exotic structures,it is
not that I can't compete with worthless novelties,I just don't believe
that astronomers would want to.I insist that I am not hard done by
even if I do retain a small sense of dismay,after all,I have spoken of
an astronomer as being more human in the range of
sensibilities ,keeping those things in balance and using them to good
effect.