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Hi Bert, it is really great that you are taking the time to think this through. Understanding, after all is obviously you goal.
Very good texts that I would recommend are; The New Solar System by Beatty, Petersen & Chalkin 4th ed, and Universe by Freedman & Kaufmann 6th ed.
Both of these books are used as University texts, I believe Universe is now in its 7th edition. Our local library has The New Solar System.
Bert, the Moon has a most interesting orbit. As you have already mentioned it is elliptical. The eccentricity of its orbit being 0.0549.
However the Moon also wobbles slightly on its axis (libration) and nods up and down along its north south axis (nutation). This wobble and nodding allows us, at different times to see slightly more than half of the surface of the Moon, about 59% overall.
The animation posted by Bill should help.
The analogy that you have mentioned relating to a hammer thrower would be an ideal analogy for the total synchronous rotation of Pluto and Charon. From the point of view of the hammer throwers back, you would never see the ball.
Stick with it Bert.
Regards
Trevor
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