Synchronous rotation

In astronomy, synchronous rotation is a planetological term describing a body orbiting another, where the orbiting body takes as long to rotate on its axis as it does to make one orbit; and therefore always keeps the same hemisphere pointed at the body it is orbiting.

The Moon is in synchronous rotation about the Earth. In fact, most moons in the solar system have synchronous rotation due to tidal locking.

See also

• Rotation
• Geosynchronous orbit