Orbit of the Moon the Moon varies as it orbits Earth and hence is not always equal to the Moon's rotational velocity. When the Moon is at its perigee, its rotation is slower than its orbital motion, and this allows us to see up to eight degrees of longitude of its eastern (right) far side. Conversely, when the Moon reaches its apogee, its rotation is faster than its orbital motion and this reveals eight degrees of longitude of its western (left) far side. This is referred to as "longitudinal libration". Because the lunar orbit is also inclined to Earth's ecliptic plane by 5.1°, the
From the Earth to the Moon First Men in the Moon") inspired the first science fiction film, "A Trip to the Moon", made in 1902 by Georges Méliès. In 1958, another film adaptation of this story was released, titled "From the Earth to the Moon". It was one of the last films made under the RKO Pictures banner. The story also became the basis for the very loose adaptation "Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon" (1967), a caper-style British comedy starring Burl Ives and Terry-Thomas. The 1961 Czechoslovak film "The Fabulous Baron Munchausen" combines characters and plot elements from the Verne novel with those of the