Earthed

What would be the effects of multiple moons on a planet?

You know how in some work of fiction, especially in fantasy and science fiction, we see worlds that have more then one moon? Then, of course, there are other, actual planets in our own universe that have multiple moons.

Well, scientifically speaking, what would the effects of multiple moons be on a planet?

Would the tides just rise higher, or whatever? Would night just be brighter? Or would there be other effects?
I'm not necessarily talking about the Earth itself as we know it, by the way.

I mean some fictional, or far-flung plant in our own universe, that naturally has more then one moon.

Public Comments

1. I would think that the tides would at least be *different* - sometimes they would be higher (if both the moons were together), and on the parts of the planet where the moons were fathest away, the tides would be much lower. Likewise, if there were multiple moons, some nights might still be moonless, but many nights would probably have more light than our current earth-moon situation.
   
   
   
   Another thing that would change is that our planet would be pulled in different directions, and that would have some effects on the body of the planet itself. There's evidence to suggest that earthquakes and volcanic activity are linked to some degree to the position of the moon relative to a fault or other stress point; clearly if there were TWO bodies "pulling" on the planet, that would make a much more complex picture.
   
   
   
   I would presume there would also be more orbital Lagrange points, but I don't know enough about orbital mechanics to say for certain; maybe someone else knows that part?
2. Totally depends on location of moons, mass of moons, composition of surface of moons, magnitude of moons.
3. Hi from France ♫
   
   
   
   Wow !!...It could be no good/dangerous !!...
   
   
   
   Have a nice day,
   
   
   
   Cat.