They are much weaker than earthquakes though. Unlike quakes on Earth that last only a few minutes at most, moonquakes can last up to half an hour. They are caused by the gravitational influence of the Earth. They're not called earthquakes but moonquakes. The effect is not as dramatic as with the oceans, but nevertheless it is a measurable effect, with the solid surface of the Earth moving by several centimetres with each tide. However, as the Moon orbits the Earth it also causes a tide of rock to rise and fall in the same way as it does with the water. The Moon makes the Earth move as well as the tidesĮveryone knows that the Moon is partly responsible for causing the tides of our oceans and seas on Earth, with the Sun also having an effect.
Image of Filtered Moon © Steve Brown, Astronomy Photographer of the Year 8.
