re: Apparently there is an AU flag on the moon?

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The bold part up there is a false statement. The rotational period fo the Moon is equal to the orbital period around the Earth, meaning that the same side always faces the Earth. However, the "far side of the Moon" receives approximately the same amount of sunlight as the near side that is visible from Earth. The only time that the far side == the dark side is during a full moon. In the new moon phase, the portion of the Moon that faces Earth is facing away from the Sun (making it dark) and therefore the far side (which we never see) is bathed in sunlight. Typically any spot on the Moon will see 14 days of continuous sunlight and temps well over 100 degrees, followed by 14 days of continuous darkness and temps -150 degrees or so. Either way, the flag would not exist be now if it was left there. Heck, if you had put a flag out in Auburn on the same date it wouldn't be recognizable now either after being exposed to heat, cold, sun, rain, etc. None of the flags (US, AU or otherwise) left by the Apollo missions likely exist anymore because they were typical nylon flags not meant to withstand the rigors of space.

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