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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Moonquakes Surprisingly Common
Image Credit: NASA, Apollo 11 Crew ^ | 6 Apr, 2025 | Image Credit: NASA, Apollo 11 Crew

Posted on 04/06/2025 1:45:59 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Why are there so many moonquakes? Analyses of seismometers left on the moon during the Apollo moon landings reveal a surprising number of moonquakes occurring within 100 kilometers of the surface. In fact, 62 moonquakes were detected in data recorded between 1972 and 1977. Many of these moonquakes are not only strong enough to move furniture in a lunar apartment, but the stiff rock of the moon continues to vibrate for many minutes, significantly longer than the softer rock earthquakes on Earth. The cause of the moonquakes remains unknown, but a leading hypothesis include tidal gravity from -- and relative heating by -- our Earth. Regardless of the source, future moon dwellings need to be built to withstand the frequent shakings. Pictured here, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin stands beside a recently deployed lunar seismometer, looking back toward the lunar landing module.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; moon; moonquakes; nasa
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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 04/06/2025 1:45:59 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 04/06/2025 1:46:16 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 04/06/2025 1:47:17 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

After about six beers, the Moon does begin to wobble a little bit.


4 posted on 04/06/2025 1:50:52 PM PDT by ComputerGuy ( )
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To: ComputerGuy

When you start shooting arrows at it, then it does seem to dodge and weave.


5 posted on 04/06/2025 2:02:55 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Whatever you do, don’t tell Buzz that’s fake.


6 posted on 04/06/2025 2:30:25 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: Larry Lucido

After careful observation of the shadows and other stuff I’ve concluded that video of Buzz punching that moron is a fake!


7 posted on 04/06/2025 2:50:52 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: MtnClimber

Cool photo.


8 posted on 04/06/2025 2:52:01 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Nateman

:)


9 posted on 04/06/2025 3:11:43 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: MtnClimber
Because of running dogs whining Glorious Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un conducts all nuclear tests on moon. Not our fault NPRK is Wakanda of all Asia.

You round eyes are behind because you eat hot dogs while our starving masses motivated workers eat real dogs so protein not wasted. Message done now maybe me not get shot.

10 posted on 04/06/2025 3:15:41 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (If you merely LOOK the fool people won't take you seriously.)
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To: MtnClimber

I knew it was hollow! I just knew it!


11 posted on 04/06/2025 5:11:31 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: telescope115

Is it made of American Cheese? Should we call it the American Moon?


12 posted on 04/06/2025 5:17:37 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber


"significantly longer than the softer rock earthquakes on Earth"


I don't know.. the 11 hours straight (nonstop) vibration after the 2011 earthquake seemed pretty darn long to me.
13 posted on 04/06/2025 5:27:24 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: MtnClimber

After Canada and Greenland we should take the moon as out 53rd state


14 posted on 04/06/2025 5:33:05 PM PDT by daku
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To: MtnClimber

It’s Swiss, until we land on it. THEN we can call it American…


15 posted on 04/06/2025 6:13:37 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: MtnClimber

Given the absence of an atmosphere and any sources of light pollution, how come the sky in that picture doesn’t show a whole bunch of stars? (not saying it’s faked, just curious as hell).


16 posted on 04/06/2025 6:32:09 PM PDT by Stosh
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To: Stosh

The scene is in very bright sunlight and the camera’s exposure settings are dialed down to avoid total blowout of the brighter surfaces. Compared to those surfaces, the stars are very dim and therefore essentially don’t show up. The film of those days did not have a huge dynamic range.


17 posted on 04/08/2025 6:19:48 AM PDT by SFConservative
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