• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.591-605
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between lunar and earth rotation, by quantitatively describing the rotation of lunar configuration which is observed during the lunar diurnal motion. Our research suggests that observation of the lunar diurnal motion could be used as a study topic in the earth science courses. The rotation of the lunar configuration is an apparent phenomenon that can be seen when an observer. standing on the ground. looks at the moon as if the lunar dark configuration rotates on the basis of horizontal line. In spite its competence as a study topic because it is observable by naked eyes, there are only few major textbooks that introduce this phenomenon with regard to the earth rotation. Therefore, this study induced the mathematical principle of the lunar rotation in detail and proposed that this could be developed as a scientific inquiry through practical observation. In addition, an analytical proof and qualitative method of explanation of the lunar reverse rotation were also presented.