<p>I'm reading the book <a href="https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030281199" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ice Worlds of the Solar System</a>. Page 62, it states that an irregular moon should point its longest axis towards its planet. Why is this the more stable configuration?</p>

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2020-11-11T06:08:40.903Z
If its axis points towards the planet, then after revolving 180 degrees on its orbit, won't it have the opposite rotational angular momentum?
Keith McClary
<natural-satellites>
Why does an irregular moon point its longest axis towards its parent planet?
usernumber
# Why does an irregular moon point its longest axis towards its parent planet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-10)

I'm reading the book [Ice Worlds of the Solar System](https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030281199). Page 62, it states that an irregular moon should point its longest axis towards its planet. Why is this the more stable configuration?

**Tags:** natural-satellites
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If its axis points towards the planet, then after revolving 180 degrees on its orbit, won't it have the opposite rotational angular momentum?  

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## 0 answers

