We Only Ever See One Side Of The Moon

Anyone know if there is a reason for why we always see the same side of the moon?

I did think that all planets etc rotate on their own axis, but it continues to bother me that the moon rotates at exactly the right speed so that the same side faces Earth. It seem so improbable that I wonder if there is something that makes it do that. For example the shape of the moon and the gravitational pull of the earth or something. Or maybe its not exactly the same and in 100,000 years it will show a different side?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_locking

Here's how I see it happening.

When the Moon was first captured by the Earth's atmosphere the Moon would have been rotating faster than the Earth. Tidal effects on the Moons mantle converted the kinetic energy of rotation to just heat, the core of the Moon heated and partially melted and separated. As the rotation slowed the molten core began solidifying in the off-center position and hence has become tidally locked.

Tidal effects on the Moons mantle converted the kinetic energy of rotation to just heat, the core of the Moon heated and partially melted and separated.

this is amazing, i'm shocked i never heard of this before. more so in that it makes perfect sense.
thank you.

This post has been edited by fishspawned on Feb 8 2012, 03:50 AM

In the link it says

From other reading the momentum is only partially conserved. A fair amount of the energy and momentum is lost as heat. Without the loss of Kinetic Energy the moon would just keep on rotating.

I love it when people notice something weird, go try to find out why, and then discover the answer.

Curiosity and science are awesome.