Tides – Week 5 Post | Clinton's Astronomy Blog

Tides are caused by the interaction between Earth, the Moon, and partially, the Sun. The gravitational pull of the Moon on Earth results in the oceans bulging in the direction of the Moon. There are 2 tide cycles each day: high tide and low tide.

During new/full moon phases, when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a line, the gravitational pull on Earth is strong, causing high tides called spring tides. The weaker neap tides occur when the Sun/Moon are perpendicular to each other during the 1^st/3^rd quarter moon phases.