Planet vs. Moon — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 25, 2024
A planet orbits the sun and has cleared its orbital path, while a moon, also known as a satellite, orbits a planet. Both are celestial bodies, but their roles and characteristics in the solar system differ significantly.
Difference Between Planet and Moon
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Planets are significant celestial bodies that orbit stars, such as the sun, and are capable of clearing other objects in their orbital paths. They have sufficient gravity to assume a nearly round shape and do not emit light, but reflect the light of their star. Whereas moons, also referred to as natural satellites, orbit planets and are often captured celestial objects or the result of cosmic collisions. Moons vary greatly in size, composition, and origin, reflecting the characteristics of their parent planets.
The process of becoming a planet involves clearing its orbit of other debris, a criterion that distinguishes them from smaller bodies like dwarf planets and asteroids. On the other hand, moons do not need to clear their orbits around planets and can range from captured asteroids to large bodies that significantly impact their planet's gravitational field and environment.
Planets can have atmospheres, weather systems, and even sustain life under the right conditions, due to their size, composition, and distance from their star. Moons, however, have a wider range of environments, from airless bodies like our Moon to those with substantial atmospheres and oceans beneath ice crusts, such as Saturn's moon Titan.
In our solar system, planets are a central focus of study due to their potential for life, geological history, and the role they play in the solar system's dynamics. Moons, while also of great interest, are studied to understand their influence on their parent planets, their unique features, and in some cases, their own potential for harboring life.
Planets and moons contribute significantly to the gravitational dynamics of the solar system. The interaction between a planet and its moons can lead to phenomena such as tidal locking, where one face of the moon always points towards the planet. In contrast, planetary interactions, particularly between those in the same system, can influence their orbits and rotational dynamics.
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Comparison Chart
Orbit
Orbits a star
Orbits a planet
Formation
Can form from the accretion disk of a star
Often results from cosmic collisions or capture
Physical Characteristics
Generally larger, with a clear path in its orbit
Smaller, with a diverse range of sizes and compositions
Potential for Life
More likely to have conditions suitable for life
Less likely, but some may have subsurface oceans or atmospheres
Role in Solar System
Influences the organization and dynamics of the system
Affects the environmental conditions of its planet (e.g., tides)
Compare with Definitions
Planet
A celestial body orbiting a star, large enough to be rounded by its own gravity.
Earth is the third planet from the sun.
Moon
Varies greatly in size and composition.
Ganymede, Jupiter’s moon, is larger than Mercury.
Planet
Known for clearing its orbital path.
Jupiter's massive gravity has cleared its orbit of other debris.
Moon
Influences its planet's environmental conditions.
Titan, Saturn’s moon, has a thick nitrogen atmosphere.
Planet
Can have an atmosphere and sustain life.
Mars is studied for its potential to have harbored life.
Moon
A natural satellite orbiting a planet.
The Earth's moon influences the tides.
Planet
Influences the dynamics of its solar system.
Neptune's orbit affects Kuiper Belt objects.
Moon
Can be captured asteroids or result from collisions.
Phobos, one of Mars' moons, is thought to be a captured asteroid.
Planet
Varies in size, composition, and temperature.
Venus, Earth’s sister planet, has a thick, toxic atmosphere and surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead.
Moon
Studied for their unique features and potential for life.
Europa is believed to have an ocean beneath its icy surface.
Planet
A planet is an astronomical body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and – according to the International Astronomical Union but not all planetary scientists – has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, astrology, science, mythology, and religion. Apart from Earth itself, five planets in the Solar System are often visible to the naked eye.
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. At about one-quarter the diameter of Earth (comparable to the width of Australia), it is the largest natural satellite in the Solar System relative to the size of its planet, the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System overall, and is larger than any known dwarf planet.
Planet
A celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit round a star.
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.
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.
Moon
A natural satellite revolving around a planet.
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.
Moon
The moon as it appears at a particular time in its cycle of phases
A gibbous moon.
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.
Moon
A month, especially a lunar month.
Planet
The collection of life forms supported on Earth
An asteroid that threatened the whole planet.
Moon
A disk, globe, or crescent resembling the natural satellite of Earth.
Planet
People as a whole; humankind or the general public
The entire planet was affected by the global recession.
Moon
Moonlight.
Planet
One of the seven revolving astrological celestial bodies that in conjunction with the stars are believed to influence human affairs and personalities.
Moon
Something unreasonable or unattainable
They acted as if we were asking for the moon.
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.
Moon
(Slang) The bared buttocks.
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.
Moon
To wander about or pass time languidly and aimlessly.
Planet
Construed with|en|the or}} this}}: {{synonym of Earth.
Moon
To yearn or pine as if infatuated.
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.
Moon
(Slang) To expose one's buttocks in public as a prank or disrespectful gesture.
Planet
A star, as influencing the fate of a men.
There's some ill planet reigns.
Moon
(Slang) To expose one's buttocks to (others) as a prank or disrespectful gesture
"threatened to moon a passing ... camera crew" (Vanity Fair).
Planet
Any of the celestial bodies (other than comets or satellites) that revolve around the sun in the solar system
Moon
Senseid|en|Q405}} {{alternative case form of Moon.
Planet
A person who follows or serves another
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!
Moon
(literary) A month, particularly a lunar month.
They stayed with their aunt and uncle for many moons.
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.
Moon
A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.
The moons surrounding the city walls were built in the sixteenth century.
Moon
The eighteenth trump/major arcana card of the Tarot.
Moon
(cartomancy) The thirty-second Lenormand card.
Moon
(card games) In hearts, the action of taking all the point cards in one hand.
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.
Moon
To gaze at lovingly or in adoration.
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?
Moon
To spend time idly, absent-mindedly.
Moon
(transitive) To expose to the rays of the Moon.
Moon
(transitive) To adorn with moons or crescents.
Moon
To rise in price rapidly or suddenly.
It is impractical if a currency moons and plummets often.
Moon
(card games) To shoot the moon.
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.
Moon
A secondary planet, or satellite, revolving about any member of the solar system; as, the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.
Moon
The time occupied by the moon in making one revolution in her orbit; a month.
Moon
A crescentlike outwork. See Half-moon.
Moon
The deliberately exposed naked buttocks.
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.
Moon
To expose one's naked buttocks to (a person); - a vulgar sign of contempt or disrespect, sometimes done as a prank.
Moon
To act if moonstruck; to wander or gaze about in an abstracted manner.
Elsley was mooning down the river by himself.
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
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
Moon
The period between successive new moons (29.531 days)
Moon
The light of the moon;
Moonlight is the smuggler's enemy
The moon was bright enough to read by
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)
Moon
Any natural satellite of a planet;
Jupiter has sixteen moons
Moon
Have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake;
She looked out the window, daydreaming
Moon
Be idle in a listless or dreamy way
Moon
Expose one's buttocks to;
Moon the audience
Common Curiosities
Can moons have moons?
While theoretically possible, there are no known moons of moons (submoons) in our solar system, largely due to stability issues.
What defines a planet?
A planet is defined by its ability to orbit a star, clear its orbital path, and have sufficient mass for its gravity to lead to a nearly round shape.
What makes a planet habitable?
Habitability is influenced by a planet’s distance from its star, atmospheric conditions, presence of water, and geological activity, among other factors.
Can planets exist without a star?
Yes, there are rogue planets that do not orbit any star and drift through space independently.
How do moons form?
Moons can form through several processes, including direct accretion from the planet's disk material, capture of passing asteroids or comets, or as a result of a collision that sends debris into orbit around a planet.
Are all moons smaller than their planets?
While most moons are smaller than their planets, there are wide variations in sizes, and some moons are larger relative to their planet than others.
What is a dwarf planet?
A dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits the sun, has enough mass for its gravity to make it nearly round, but has not cleared its orbital path of other debris.
Can moons have atmospheres?
Yes, some moons, like Saturn’s Titan, have thick atmospheres, but many do not.
What is the largest moon in the solar system?
Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, is the largest moon in the solar system.
Do all planets have moons?
Not all planets have moons. For example, Mercury and Venus in our solar system do not have any moons.
What determines a moon’s orbit?
A moon’s orbit is determined by the gravitational pull between the moon and its planet, as well as the motion of the planet itself.
Why do some planets have more moons than others?
The number of moons can depend on a planet’s size, gravitational pull, and its history of collisions and captures.
How do moons affect tides on Earth?
The moon's gravitational pull on Earth is the primary force behind ocean tides.
How many planets are in our solar system?
There are eight recognized planets in our solar system.
What is the difference between a moon and a satellite?
"Moon" usually refers to a natural satellite orbiting a planet, while "satellite" can refer to both natural objects, like moons, and man-made objects orbiting a planet.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
