Near side of the Moon Near side of the Moon The near side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned towards Earth, whereas the opposite side is the far side. Only one side of the Moon is visible from Earth because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that the Moon orbits the Earth – a situation known as synchronous rotation, or tidal locking. The Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun, and the cyclically varying viewing conditions cause the lunar phases. Sometimes the dark portion of the Moon is faintly visible due to earthshine, which is indirect
Sun and Moon (Middle-earth) the Narsilion, the "Song of the Sun and Moon". The published "Silmarillion" states that the Sun was created by the Vala Aulë; he and his people made a vessel to hold the radiance of the last fruit of Laurelin. The vessel of the sun was guided by Arien, a Maia. Names of the Sun amongst the Elves included Anar or "The Fire-golden", a name given to it by the Vanyar; Anor, the common name for the Sun in Sindarin, as seen in "Minas Anor" (later Minas Tirith) and the Gondorian province of "Anórien"; and Vása, or "Heart of Fire", a