earthquake is to earth as 'what'quake is to other planets?
By murkie
@murkie (1103)
Philippines
August 27, 2011 6:48am CST
i've recently read articles about earthquakes. and among these i encountered this question. well, not exactly in that form. but the concept is there.
ifever there is a tremor in mars, would it be called a marsquake? or maybe in some planets, a jupiterquake or mercuryquake? or in other heavenly bodies, like moonquake perhaps? 
i even am not sure if there are seismic activities in other heavenly bodies at all. any astronomers out there?
i even am not sure if there are seismic activities in other heavenly bodies at all. any astronomers out there?1 person likes this
6 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
27 Aug 11
The 'earth' referred to is the physical substance (soil, rock &c), not the name of the planet (which is usually spelled with a capital 'E').
An 'earthquake' would then be applicable to a shaking of the rocks &c on any planet. I have seen the term 'moonquake' applied to earthquakes on the moon but this is strictly incorrect because it would imply a shaking of the whole moon!
5 people like this
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
27 Aug 11
hello and welcome dupremo.
actually not all planets has rocks and dirt. some are only made up of gas. and some of those which does have dirt do are not as seismically active as ours.
@qeegood. i've heard about tellus before. but it isn't that familiar in the common language, so it is often unheard of. but i wonder if there ever was a seismic tremor that shoook the whole earth. please fill in again 
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
28 Aug 11
well yes, we have several languages. but for universal knowledge, we might as well use a universal language. so i guess some terms are better in english, or in any other language that is globally understood.
and yes, i've read about that diamond planet too.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
27 Aug 11
Well it really is an interesting thing to think about. Given that the Earth is really something that is a unique animal, as it has its own set of weather patterns and can sustain human life, unlike many other planets. Well as far as we know anywhere. Still the term Earthquake may have a different name when done on another planet and the circumstances could be something that is intriguing to say the very least.
Still this is rather something to think about. Naturally with different atmospheres, whether being closer or further from the sun, with more moons orbiting the planet, there are going to be different natural disasters than the Earth. Different seismic problems for sure. Then again, I'm not a scientist, but never the less, it is something to think about, even if it is making my head spin.
1 person likes this
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
27 Aug 11
ahhh.. the life in other planets.
anyway, it's really that too interesting a task to wonder if there are activities and life forms in other heavenly bodies, especially for some of us who are just mere mortals.
it's just but normal, though. i think this subject has been thought off in one way or another by any human.
anyway, it's really that too interesting a task to wonder if there are activities and life forms in other heavenly bodies, especially for some of us who are just mere mortals.
it's just but normal, though. i think this subject has been thought off in one way or another by any human.
@maplewen (25)
• China
28 Aug 11
hahahaha!!this is a typical english problem.If your mother language is chinese,you will not feel it puzzle.In chinese,we speak earthquake "Di Zhen".the word is very similar with that in english,it is also composed by two words, "Di"is equivalent to the word"earth",and "Zhen" is equivalent to the word quake.For example,we speak earth as "Di Qiu".But the word "Di" means a lot in chinese,the most common meaning of the word is "ground",so the truly meaning of "earthquake" to chinese is "groundquake".We never think about "earthquake"or"moonquake"or someother quake
@Ryanyuan123 (95)
• China
27 Aug 11
hehe,I also have such kind of interesting question.And i look forward to a real explanation with you.
1 person likes this
but let us first see what our fellow mylotters could come up with, then i'll share my opinion after some time.
o, btw, welcome to mylot.
@cattychristina (57)
• China
28 Aug 11
I feel that is a interesting question. I think whether the earthquake will happen in other planets, that structure of the planets is the piont. If the planet has the same structure as our earth, I think that would be a earthquake happen at there.
What do you think?
