Feel like the day’s just flown by? You’re not wrong!
Our planet is actually picking up the pace and spinning a tiny bit faster right now. In fact, today (July 9), along with July 22 and August 5, are expected to be some of the shortest days we’ve had in a while.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to adjust your watch. We’re only talking about a difference of around 1.3 to 1.51 milliseconds—just a smidge over one-thousandth of a second!
So, what’s putting the pedal to the metal? You can thank the Moon. Its current position is giving Earth a gentle gravitational nudge, making our planet spin just a little bit faster. So if your day feels unusually rushed, feel free to (jokingly) blame it on the Moon.
Fun Fact:
Days used to be way shorter.
About 1.4 billion years ago, a full day on Earth lasted only around 19 hours. The reason? Our old friend, the Moon. Its gravity causes ocean tides, and all that water sloshing back and forth works like a slow-motion brake on the planet’s spin. Over billions of years, that gentle tug has gradually lengthened our days.
But here’s a cosmic twist:
As the Moon slows Earth down, it’s also drifting away by about 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) every year!
Here’s a slightly terrifying twist:
Global warming is also affecting Earth’s rotation—but in the opposite direction.
Think of an ice skater: When they pull their arms in, they spin faster. When they stretch their arms out, they slow down. Climate change is causing polar ice to melt, and that water is redistributing toward the equator. That’s like the skater stretching their arms out slowing the spin.
So ironically, while today’s Moon-induced speed-up is happening, there’s a long-term slowdown from global warming playing out in the background.
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