2006-11-02 08:17:04 · 11 answers · asked by weazie36 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because although the moon is as big as a planet, it does not have the characteristics of a planet. Jupiter's moon is a moon because it displays characteristics of a moon, like orbiting Jupiter and being stuck into Juptier's gravational pull.
2006-11-02 08:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by Sunshine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah The Moon Is Called Ganymede And It's Quite Bigger Than Pluto
2016-05-23 19:39:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it orbits a planet, not the sun.
Same reason our moon is a moon.
2006-11-02 08:26:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moon = orbits a planet
Planet = orbits a star
Obviously it's not as simple as I have outlined but this is a basic rule of thumb. Planets have requirements, such as mass and chemical makeup, to be classified as a planet.
2006-11-02 08:18:09 · answer #4 · answered by Telesto 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The satelite (its the real word) is not a planet because it orbits around Jupiter and planets are supposed to orbit ( in our solar systeme) around the sun.
2006-11-02 08:36:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moons are settlites, they go around planets. while planets revolve around stars (like in our solar system all planets go around sun (which is a star)).
planets may have their own moons. Size never decides which is moon and which is planet.
2006-11-02 08:32:41 · answer #6 · answered by newmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, only our moon is the 'moon' -- the others are 'satellites'.
They are big, but they're still moons because they orbit in Jupiter's gravity well, not the sun's.
2006-11-02 08:18:58 · answer #7 · answered by BZR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats cuz a planet revolves around sun(star)
and moons revolve around planets!
2006-11-02 08:19:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"It ain't the meat, it's the motion."
Moons orbit Planets orbit Suns (or stars).
2006-11-02 08:22:22 · answer #9 · answered by Finnegan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Because it orbits a larger body.
2006-11-02 08:18:48 · answer #10 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋