NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/talk/origins/15944

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-29 | 1.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!dave
From: [e-mail] (Dave Waller)
Newsgroups: talk.origins
Subject: Re: Cosmos without Gravitation
Date: 29 Dec 1992 17:29:50 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
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In article <[e-mail]> m23364@mwunix (James Meritt) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Onar Aam) writes:
>}>13.  If planets and satellites were once molten masses...they would not have been
>}>able to
>}>obtain spherical form, especially those which do not rotate, as Mercury or the
>}>moon (with
>}^^^^^
>}>respect to its primary)
>}
>}
>}That is simply not true. The moon is rotating (ever heard of earth rise?)
>}although only slightly.
>
>wobbles, not rotate.  If it rotated, 100% would (eventually) become visable.
>It doesn't.

I believe you are incorrect on this one, Jim. The moon MUST be rotating,
and indeed, it's period is about 28 days. Otherwise, how could it orbit
the earth once every 28 days and keep the same face oriented at the
earth's surface? Think about it.

As for the "earthrise", well, that is simply wrong. What this person
must be referring to are some of the pictures that have been taken close
to the earth-relative horizon on the moon, which gives us a neat image
of the earth "rising" over the horizon.
--
Dave Waller
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Workstation Systems Division
Sunnyvale Channel Partner Consulting