Earth May Record Third Fastest Day Today
Scientists have predicted that August 5, 2025, could become the third shortest day in recorded history, as the Earth’s rotation is expected to accelerate slightly—by about 1.25 milliseconds.
According to a report by Time and Date, based on data from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service and the US Naval Observatory, Earth may complete its rotation a tiny bit faster than usual today. Earlier estimates had predicted a 1.51-millisecond drop, but recent revisions have lowered that to 1.25 milliseconds.
This subtle increase in rotational speed will not affect daily human activity, but researchers are paying close attention. If accurate, this would follow similar instances on 30 June 2022 and 5 July 2024, when Earth also rotated faster than usual. The 5 July 2024 record currently holds the title for the fastest day, clocking in at 1.66 milliseconds shorter than average.
Currency Converter
The exact reason behind this acceleration remains unclear. However, scientists suspect that the Moon’s shifting distance from Earth, especially when it moves farther south or north relative to Earth’s equator, may influence rotation speed. On August 5, the Moon is positioned more toward the southern hemisphere, possibly causing Earth to spin slightly faster.
Historically, Earth’s rotation has been slowing down. In fact, 245 million years ago, days were nearly 1.5 hours shorter. Since 1973, researchers have generally observed a gradual decrease in Earth’s rotation speed.
