Tidal Locking
Tidal locking occurs when the gravitational force between two celestial bodies causes one body to always face the other. This is due to the tidal bulges created by the gravitational force, which cause a torque that slows down the rotation of the smaller body until it becomes tidally locked. Tidal locking is a common phenomenon in the solar system, with many moons and planets being tidally locked to their parent bodies. For example, the Moon is tidally locked to Earth, always showing the same face to us. Tidal locking has important implications for the study of exoplanets, as it can affect the planet's climate, atmosphere, and habitability.
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