01 May 2026

The Moon Even Makes The Rocks Beneath Your Feet Rise and Fall

The Moon's orbit creates ocean tides that cause the level of water to rise and fall throughout the day. It also moves land, albeit much less. 

The tidal pull of the Earth on the Moon is so strong that it causes a tidal wave on the ground, a permanent bulge of about 4 meters on the side of the Moon facing the Earth. (The Moon always has the same side facing Earth, so this does not ripple across the surface of the Moon.) The Moon doesn't just cause a bulge in the Earth's oceans as it orbits, it causes a bulge in the Earth's land surface. The solid rocks beneath your feet rise and fall by roughly 30 to 50 centimeters as the Moon passes over head. You don't notice this but sensitive equipment does. 

If that doesn't make the hair stand up at the back of your neck, you may be insensitive to tidal forces.

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