An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Sudden shaking of the → Earth's surface caused by the passage of a → seismic wave whose mechanical effects can be destructive. See also → starquake.

→ earth; → quake.

A quake on the → planet Mars, probably caused by some phenomena other than → tectonic plate motions. Unlike Earth, Mars seems to lack tectonic plates. Therefore, its quakes are thought to arise from the slow cooling of the planet over time, which causes the → crust to contract and develop fractures. These quakes can also come from the impact of → meteorites and possibly the movement of → magma deep below the surface. On April 6, 2019, the instrument called Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) on NASA's Mars → InSight Mission lander recorded quakes that appear to have come from inside the planet, the first time ever a likely marsquake.

→ Mars; → quake.

A → seismic event occurring on the → Moon; the lunar equivalent of an → earthquake. Moonquakes were first detected by the → seismometers placed on the Moon by Apollo astronauts from 1969 through 1972. The instruments placed by the Apollo 12, 14, 15, and 16 missions were functional until 1977. Unlike earthquakes, moonquakes are not believed to be caused by → tectonic plate movement, but by → tidal forces between Earth and the Moon. There are at least four different kinds of moonquakes: (1) deep moonquakes about 700 km below the surface. They occur at monthly intervals at about 100 distinct sites, indicating that these moonquakes are caused by → stresses from changes in lunar tides as the Moon orbits the Earth; (2) vibrations from the impact of → meteorites; (3) thermal quakes caused by the expansion of the frigid crust when first illuminated by the morning sun after two weeks of deep-freeze lunar night; and (4) shallow moonquakes only 20 or 30 km below the surface (science.nasa.gov/science-news).

→ moon; → quake.

1) To shake or tremble.
2) The act or an instance of quaking. → earthquake, → starquake.

M.E., from O.E. cwacian "to shake, tremble," of unknown origin.

Larzidan, larz "to tremble, shiver," → seismo-.

An astrophysical phenomenon that occurs when the → crust of a → neutron star undergoes a sudden adjustment, analogous to an → earthquake on Earth. Starquakes are thought to be caused by huge → stresses exerted on the surface of the neutron star produced by twists in the ultra-strong interior → magnetic fields. They are thought to be the source of the intense → gamma-ray bursts that come from → soft gamma repeaters.

→ star; → quake.