Lunar Farside . ... Credit Copyright: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Explanation: Tidally locked in synchronous rotation , the Moon always presents its familiar nearside to denizens of planet Earth . From lunar orbit , the Moon's farside can become familiar, though. ... Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the farside looks very different from the nearside covered with smooth dark lunar maria. ... A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC . ...