Moonquakes can last for up to 10 minutes because the Moon vibrates like a ringing bell.

Between 1969 and 1972, Apollo astronauts placed seismometers on the Moon to measure its movements. These sensors recorded four types of moonquakes, including deep quakes and shallow quakes. Shallow moonquakes are the most powerful and can reach a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale.On Earth, seismic waves lose energy quickly. Our planet has liquid water and soft minerals that act like sponges to soak up vibrations. The Moon is a cold, dry, and solid piece of rock. It lacks the soft materials needed to dampen the energy of a quake.When a moonquake starts, the energy travels through the rigid lunar crust with very little resistance. The waves bounce back and forth inside the Moon instead of fading away. This causes the entire Moon to ring like a giant metal bell for several minutes.Most moonquakes are caused by tidal flexing. This happens because Earth's gravity pulls on the Moon as it orbits our planet. This constant pulling stretches and squeezes the Moon's crust until it cracks and shakes. Scientists use these long-lasting vibrations to map the layers of the Moon's interior.