We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

For A Billion Years, A Day On Earth Was Only 19 Hours Long

At one point, not all of us had the same amount of hours in a day. Learn what controls the length of a day.

By Conor Feehly
Aug 10, 2023 2:00 PM
Sphere of nightly Earth planet in outer space
(Credit:Krishna Vihari/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Days come and go. Our circadian rhythms are tuned to the rising and setting of the Sun and the push and pull of the Moon. Days appear stable to us, an endless cycle of day and night, unless we decide to change our clocks, there are always 24 hours in a day.

However, change is the norm when it comes to Earth's day length over geological periods. Earth's satellite, our Moon, steals rotational energy to travel farther and farther away from us over time. And as the Moon's gravitational effect on the Earth diminishes, so does its ability to affect our day length.

What Controls the Length of a Day?

"It is certainly the pull of the Moon's gravity that causes the tides in the oceans to ebb and flow, and that is the dominant factor controlling Earth's day length.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.