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) Sun. In the universe of Middle-earth, the Sun is generally regarded as feminine, in recognition of Arien. This gender corresponds with Sól (Sun), the personified in Germanic mythology. The Maia Tilion was chosen to guide the vessel of the Moon. Names of the Moon amongst the Elves included Isil or "The Sheen", a name given to it by the Vanyar; Ithil, the common name for the Moon in Sindarin, as seen in "Minas Ithil" (later Minas Morgul) and the Gondorian province of Ithilien; and Rána, or "The Wayward", a name given to the Moon by the Noldor. A poetic name