Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Primordial Groove · 03-06-2003, 10:54 AM

Do all planets and moons have quakes?

I know what causes Earthquakes; plate tectonics.

What would cause a moon quake? Or a sun quake?

Shadowy Man · 03-06-2003, 11:55 AM

The moon doesn't have plate tectonics. However, there still may be tremors on the moon. The most likely cause would be from impacts. Another possibility, though I don't know off hand if this is happening, would be from tidal stresses by the Earth or Sun.

The Sun doesn't have "quakes" per se, but there are oscillations on the Sun, and other stars as well. The study of these has resulted in a field called helioseismology. Try a google search and see what comes up.

Wyz_sub10 · 03-06-2003, 01:08 PM

Jupiter's moon Io undergoes violent stresses caused by tidal friction due to the massive planet.

The gavity exerted on Io by Jupiter literally stretches and compresses it like an accordion. This creates the worst volcanic activity in the solar system.

I'm not sure that we can call these 'quakes' in the sense that there are no plates shifting.

Godless Dave · 03-07-2003, 05:30 AM

The moon is not geologically active. (Neither is Mars, apparently). But the earth and at least one Jovian moon are.

03-06-2003, 10:54 AM	#1
Primordial Groove Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 1,570	Quakes! Do all planets and moons have quakes? I know what causes Earthquakes; plate tectonics. What would cause a moon quake? Or a sun quake?

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03-06-2003, 11:55 AM	#2
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	The moon doesn't have plate tectonics. However, there still may be tremors on the moon. The most likely cause would be from impacts. Another possibility, though I don't know off hand if this is happening, would be from tidal stresses by the Earth or Sun. The Sun doesn't have "quakes" per se, but there are oscillations on the Sun, and other stars as well. The study of these has resulted in a field called helioseismology. Try a google search and see what comes up.

03-06-2003, 01:08 PM	#3
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	Jupiter's moon Io undergoes violent stresses caused by tidal friction due to the massive planet. The gavity exerted on Io by Jupiter literally stretches and compresses it like an accordion. This creates the worst volcanic activity in the solar system. I'm not sure that we can call these 'quakes' in the sense that there are no plates shifting.

03-07-2003, 05:30 AM	#4
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	The moon is not geologically active. (Neither is Mars, apparently). But the earth and at least one Jovian moon are.

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