Where Does Moonquakes Occur?

Deep moonquakes occur in so-called “nests”, which repeatedly release seismic energy in specific cycles correlated with lunar tides (Figure 23.6). More than 7000 individual deep moonquakes were recorded, originating from more than 250 of these nests, which are situated at depths between 700 and 1100 km.

How are moonquakes formed?

The moonquakes are probably a result of the moon's ongoing contraction. The moon is still tectonically active, like Earth, generating moonquakes as our planet creates earthquakes, a new study based on Apollo mission data found.

How do we know that moonquakes happen on the Moon?

The largest moonquakes are much weaker than the largest earthquakes, though their shaking can last for up to an hour, due to fewer attenuating factors to damp seismic vibrations. Information about moonquakes comes from seismometers placed on the Moon from 1969 through 1972.