Daily Archives: November 2, 2020

Tides in the ocean are caused by the gravitational force between Earth and the moon. There are also atmospheric tides.

Lunar gravity affects the density of the thermosphere, which is the largest layer of the atmosphere. This is also where many satellites and the International Space Station orbit Earth. This lunar-induced drag is small, but it has to be included in the models used to predict the satellites’ orbits. The moon also affects the pressure at Earth’s surface. Continue reading →