Moon vs. Planet: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A Moon is a natural satellite orbiting a planet, while a Planet is a celestial body orbiting a star, larger than an asteroid but not emitting light of its own.
Key Differences
A Moon is a natural satellite that orbits around a planet, often showing phases due to its position relative to the planet and the Sun. On the other hand, a Planet is a substantial celestial body orbiting a star, distinguished by its sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moons vary in size and composition, often reflecting the characteristics of their parent planets, and can be found orbiting many planets in our solar system. In contrast, Planets are primary bodies in a solar system, with their own orbits around a star, and are classified based on their size, composition, and orbit.
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Dec 04, 2023
The Moon of Earth, often simply referred to as 'the Moon', plays a significant role in affecting Earth's tides and stabilizing its axial tilt, while each Planet in the solar system has unique characteristics, such as atmosphere, temperature, and geological activity.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moons themselves do not emit light but reflect the light of a star, such as the Sun, and their visibility from their parent planets can vary. Planets, while also not emitting their own light, are often visible from Earth due to the sunlight they reflect.
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Dec 04, 2023
In our solar system, the term 'Moon' usually refers to Earth's Moon, which is unique in its strong influence on Earth, whereas the term 'Planet' encompasses a broader range of bodies, including Earth itself, with diverse environments and properties.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A natural satellite orbiting a planet
A celestial body orbiting a star
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Light Emission
Does not emit light, reflects starlight
Does not emit light, reflects starlight
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Size and Composition
Generally smaller than planets, diverse compositions
Larger, with enough mass for self-gravity
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Number in Solar System
Multiple moons can orbit a planet
Limited number, each with unique orbit
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Moon and Planet Definitions
Moon
An object affecting its planet's conditions.
Jupiter's moons contribute to its complex gravitational field.
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Dec 04, 2023
Planet
A body in space not emitting its own light.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moon
Often the only natural satellite of a planet.
Earth's Moon affects both its tides and axial tilt.
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Dec 04, 2023
Planet
A body with its own orbit in a solar system.
Mars is known as the red planet due to its surface color.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moon
Often Moon The natural satellite of Earth, visible by reflection of sunlight and having a slightly elliptical orbit, approximately 363,100 kilometers (225,600 miles) distant at perigee and 405,700 kilometers (252,100 miles) at apogee. Its mean diameter is 3,475 kilometers (2,159 miles), its mass approximately one eightieth that of Earth, and its average period of revolution around Earth 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes calculated with respect to the sun.
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Planet
A body potentially hosting life or unique environments.
Scientists study planets to understand the potential for extraterrestrial life.
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Planet
A celestial body orbiting a star, distinguished by its mass and round shape.
Earth is the third planet from the Sun.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moon
The moon as it appears at a particular time in its cycle of phases
A gibbous moon.
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Oct 19, 2023
Planet
A significant body with potential for moons.
Saturn is famous for its prominent ring system and numerous moons.
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Planet
In the traditional model of solar systems, a celestial body larger than an asteroid or comet, illuminated by light from a star, such as the sun, around which it revolves.
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Planet
A celestial body that orbits the sun, has sufficient mass to assume nearly a round shape, clears out dust and debris from the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite of another planet.
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Oct 19, 2023
Planet
One of the seven celestial bodies, Mercury, Venus, the moon, the sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, visible to the naked eye and thought by ancient astronomers to revolve in the heavens about a fixed Earth and among fixed stars.
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Moon
Something unreasonable or unattainable
They acted as if we were asking for the moon.
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Planet
The collection of life forms supported on Earth
An asteroid that threatened the whole planet.
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Planet
People as a whole; humankind or the general public
The entire planet was affected by the global recession.
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Planet
One of the seven revolving astrological celestial bodies that in conjunction with the stars are believed to influence human affairs and personalities.
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Planet
Each of the seven major bodies which move relative to the fixed stars in the night sky—the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
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Moon
(Slang) To expose one's buttocks in public as a prank or disrespectful gesture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Planet
(astronomy) A body which is massive enough to be in hydrostatic equilibrium (generally resulting in being an ellipsoid) but not enough to attain nuclear fusion and, in IAU usage, which directly orbits a star (or star cluster) and dominates the region of its orbit; specifically, in the case of the Solar system, the eight major bodies of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
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Moon
(Slang) To expose one's buttocks to (others) as a prank or disrespectful gesture
"threatened to moon a passing ... camera crew" (Vanity Fair).
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Planet
A celestial body which revolves about the sun in an orbit of a moderate degree of eccentricity. It is distinguished from a comet by the absence of a coma, and by having a less eccentric orbit. See Solar system.
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Moon
Any natural satellite of a planet.
The stargazer observed the moons of Jupiter for over a year.
That's no moon, you idiot... it's a space station!
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Planet
A star, as influencing the fate of a men.
There's some ill planet reigns.
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Moon
(literary) A month, particularly a lunar month.
They stayed with their aunt and uncle for many moons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Planet
Any of the celestial bodies (other than comets or satellites) that revolve around the sun in the solar system
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Moon
A representation of the moon, usually as a crescent or as a circle with a face; a crescent-shaped shape, symbol, or object.
The wizard costume was decorated with stars and moons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.
The moons surrounding the city walls were built in the sixteenth century.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
(card games) In hearts, the action of taking all the point cards in one hand.
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Moon
To display one's buttocks to, typically as a jest, insult, or protest.
The hooligans mooned the riot police.
It was ill-advised of Sam to moon the photographer during the shoot.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
(usually followed by over or after) To fuss over something adoringly; to be infatuated with someone.
Sarah mooned over Sam's photograph for months.
You've been mooning after her forever; why not just ask her out?
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
To rise in price rapidly or suddenly.
It is impractical if a currency moons and plummets often.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
The celestial orb which revolves round the earth; the satellite of the earth; a secondary planet, whose light, borrowed from the sun, is reflected to the earth, and serves to dispel the darkness of night. The diameter of the moon is 2,160 miles, its mean distance from the earth is 240,000 miles, and its mass is one eightieth that of the earth. See Lunar month, under Month.
The crescent moon, the diadem of night.
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Moon
A secondary planet, or satellite, revolving about any member of the solar system; as, the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
The time occupied by the moon in making one revolution in her orbit; a month.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
To expose to the rays of the moon.
If they have it to be exceeding white indeed, they seethe it yet once more, after it hath been thus sunned and mooned.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
To expose one's naked buttocks to (a person); - a vulgar sign of contempt or disrespect, sometimes done as a prank.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
To act if moonstruck; to wander or gaze about in an abstracted manner.
Elsley was mooning down the river by himself.
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
The natural satellite of the Earth;
The average distance to the moon is 384,400 kilometers
Men first stepped on the moon in 1969
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Moon
Any object resembling a moon;
He made a moon lamp that he used as a night light
The clock had a moon that showed various phases
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
The light of the moon;
Moonlight is the smuggler's enemy
The moon was bright enough to read by
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
United States religious leader (born in Korea) who founded the Unification Church in 1954; was found guilty of conspiracy to evade taxes (born in 1920)
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Oct 19, 2023
Moon
Have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake;
She looked out the window, daydreaming
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Moon
A natural satellite orbiting a planet.
The Moon's gravitational pull affects Earth's tides.
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Dec 04, 2023
Moon
A celestial body visible by reflected light.
The full Moon illuminated the night sky.
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Moon
A body with phases depending on its position.
The Moon's phases cycle from new to full monthly.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a planet have more than one moon?
Yes, some planets like Jupiter have multiple moons.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is the Moon the only natural satellite of Earth?
Yes, Earth has only one natural satellite, the Moon.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a moon have its own moon?
It's theoretically possible, but none have been observed in our solar system.
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Are planets always larger than moons?
Generally, yes, but there can be exceptions based on the size of the moon and the planet.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are there moons bigger than some planets?
Yes, some moons are larger than the smallest planets.
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Can planets exist without orbiting a star?
Yes, these are known as rogue planets.
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Do all planets have moons?
No, not all planets have moons, like Mercury and Venus.
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Do moons affect their planets?
Yes, moons can affect their planets, like Earth's Moon affects tides.
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Do planets emit light?
Planets do not emit their own light but reflect light from stars.
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Do planets have a specific orbit pattern?
Yes, planets follow specific orbits determined by gravitational forces.
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Is Earth's Moon unique?
Yes, especially in its size relative to Earth and its effect on Earth.
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Can moons have atmospheres?
Some moons, like Saturn's Titan, have substantial atmospheres.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is our Moon the largest in the solar system?
No, Jupiter's moon Ganymede is the largest.
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Do planets rotate around their axis?
Yes, planets rotate around their axis, creating day and night cycles.
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Can moons have volcanic activity?
Yes, some moons, like Jupiter's Io, have volcanic activity.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do all planets in the solar system have a solid surface?
No, gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn do not have a traditional solid surface.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a planet be a moon?
No, planets and moons are distinct celestial bodies.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do all moons have the same composition?
No, moons can have varied compositions and atmospheres.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is the Moon visible every night from Earth?
The Moon's visibility varies based on its phase and position.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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