* The Moon is tidally locked: This means it always shows the same face to Earth. The side facing us is often called the "near side," while the side facing away is the "far side."
* Sunlight illuminates both sides: Both the near and far side of the Moon receive sunlight, just at different times. When the near side is facing the Sun, it is day on the near side and night on the far side.
* The Moon's rotation: The Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate it orbits the Earth. This is why we always see the same face.
So, why is there a misconception about a "dark side"?
The term "dark side" likely comes from the fact that we never see the far side of the Moon from Earth. It's been a mystery for centuries, and therefore often associated with darkness and the unknown.
In reality, both sides of the Moon experience periods of light and darkness, just like Earth. The only difference is that we only see one side from our perspective on Earth.
