On the Erroneous Correlation between Earthquakes and Eclipses

Abstract

A long-lasting belief is that the gravitational stress by the moon would be responsible for earthquakes because of causing a tidal deformation of Earth's crust. Even worse, earthquakes are sometimes said to be correlated with eclipses. We review the origin of this wrong statement and show that the idea is owed to a fallacious perception of coincidence. In ancient times the two catastrophes were linked interpreting the announcement of Doomsday, while in modern times a quasi-scientific essay disseminated such an interrelation shortly before the theory of tectonics.