Editing Man in the Moon (section)

==Scientific explanation==
The Man in the Moon is made up of various lunar maria (which ones depend on the pareidolic image seen). These vast, flat spots on the Moon are called "maria" or "seas" because, for a long time, astronomers believed they were large bodies of water. They are large areas formed by lava that covered up old craters and then cooled, becoming smooth, [[basalt]] rock.<ref>Harrington, Philip S., and Edward Pascuzzi (1994). ''Astronomy for All Ages: Discovering the Universe through Activities for Children and Adults''. Old Saybrook, CT: Globe Pequot.</ref>

The [[near side of the Moon]] with these maria that make up the man is always facing Earth due to a [[tidal locking]], or synchronous orbit. Thought to have occurred because of the gravitational forces partially caused by the Moon's oblong shape, its rotation has slowed to the point where it rotates exactly once on each trip around the Earth. This causes the same side of the Moon to always face toward Earth.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.caltech.edu/content/looking-man-moon | title=Looking at the Man in the Moon | website=www.caltech.edu | publisher=[[California Institute of Technology]] | access-date=July 31, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808041528/http://www.caltech.edu/content/looking-man-moon | archive-date=August 8, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>