In ancient times, the sky was seen as a perfect clock. Stars and planets moved along fixed trajectories, repeating the same movements yearly. Any change in this apparent harmony, it was believed, must also have effects on Earth.
The sudden appearance of a comet or lunar and solar eclipses was particularly suspicious. It was regularly suspected that approaching comets caused earthquakes, especially large ones.
Even today, many believe that the position of the Sun, Moon, and even the other planets in our solar system can cause earthquakes on Earth. However, part of this belief is absolutely to be excluded. The gravitational attraction of the other planets, even the largest, is indeed too weak to cause an earthquake. As demonstrated by the famous event in March 1982, when all the planets aligned (or almost) relative to Earth without causing any effects, not even if all the planets were aligned together could they influence the balance of our faults... not even the most sensitive ones!
In short, the planets are too far away to cause trouble, but there seems to be some truth in the belief that the Moon can influence seismic activity. By studying the frequency of large earthquakes in Chile, California, and Japan, researchers have discovered that earthquakes greater than 5 are more likely to occur during the new or full moon when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align.
But wait a moment... If this were true, it would mean that all the more reason a solar eclipse, a phenomenon for which the Moon and Sun must be perfectly aligned, could unleash the "perfect storm" capable of disrupting the Earth's surface at its weakest points!
And right now, while the entire North American continent is in feverish anticipation of the April 8 eclipse, a bunch of rumors have started circulating based on these evaluations, suggesting the possibility that the cosmic event could even destabilize the balance in the so-called "New Madrid Fault," with the consequent devastation of a territory that experienced the fury of a very strong earthquake many years ago.
And wouldn't you know it, the earthquake in the winter between 1811 and 1812 was preceded by a total solar eclipse, and also by another particular astronomical phenomenon that is recurring these days...
Just a coincidence?