Which aspect of the Moon affects visibility from Earth?

The aspect of the Moon that affects its visibility from Earth is its tidal locking. Tidal locking refers to the phenomenon where an astronomical body, such as the Moon, rotates on its axis in the same amount of time it takes to orbit another body—in this case, the Earth. As a result, the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, which means that we only see about 50% of the Moon's surface over time, with the other half (the far side) remaining largely hidden from direct view from Earth.

This unique rotational relationship explains why, regardless of the Moon's position in its orbit, the same features are almost always visible to us. The consistent visibility of the Moon's near side allows us to observe its craters, maria, and mountains, making tidal locking a crucial factor in determining what we see when we look up at the Moon.

Understanding tidal locking enhances our knowledge of both the Moon's motion and its relationship with Earth.