2007-02-17 17:21:54 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A planet orbits around the sun, or around some other star.
A moon orbits around a planet. It is also called a satellite.
(Someone stated above that a moon doesn't have any gravity. That is incorrect.)
2007-02-17 17:24:44 · answer #1 · answered by K ; 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Re: What is the difference between A moon and A planet?
The difference between a moon and a planet is entirely semantic. A planet orbits a star. A moon orbits a planet. That's pretty much it.
The composition of moons and planets has far more to do with their position in the solar system (bodies closer to the sun have more rock and less ice) than with what they orbit.
Consider the planet Mercury. Mercury is smaller than the moons Ganymede (Jupiter) and Titan (Saturn). Nevertheless, Mercury orbits the Sun; Ganymede and Titan orbit planets.
Consider Pluto. Pluto is smaller than no less than seven of the moons in our solar system, including Neptune's Triton, which is thought to be very similar to Pluto and even to have once been a planet.
(It's true that there was recently an abortive move to reclassify Pluto as a Kuiper-belt object -- that is, not-a-planet in the same way that the asteroid Ceres is not considered a planet. But that failed, partly, I suspect, because Clyde Tombaugh is still alive and well-liked.)
2007-02-18 02:04:12 · answer #2 · answered by Tin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the difference between a "Planet" and a "Moon"? The difference between a "Planet" and a "Moon" doesn't have anything to do with size. In fact, there are moons which are bigger than some planets! Planets are satellites of the Sun - they orbit around it. Moons orbit around the planets.
2007-02-18 01:25:35 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica B 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are many variances. A planet can support life. A moon is more like an asteroid that can not sufficiently support life forms of living creatures. Plants have an air source and moons are not quite weightless but I think that mass drops by 1/3 to half on a moon and airless. That would be why the astronauts tend to bounce and have to wear helmets equip with an air supply. Um .. I'm sure there are many more but I can't think of them right now. It all comes down to life supportable or not really.
2007-02-18 01:31:16 · answer #4 · answered by ~Les~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A moon orbits a planet, and is much smaller than the planet it self.
2007-02-18 01:28:32 · answer #5 · answered by Raki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A moon orbits the larger body which is the planet.
2007-02-18 02:19:59 · answer #6 · answered by Tikimaskedman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Planets are bigger than moons. planets have gravity moons can but not as much as the planet its orbiting around or it wouldn't be a moon it would be a planet
2007-02-18 12:30:41 · answer #7 · answered by Thechosen1 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Moon is a satellite around a planet and revolves around that planet...planet revolves around a sun. Moons do have gravity....how do you think astronauts walk on them...
2007-02-18 01:24:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A moon usually orbits around a planet and doesn't have any gravity.
2007-02-18 01:24:27 · answer #9 · answered by divaL 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Planet is required (now) to be a certain size or larger and must orbit the sun.
2007-02-18 01:25:28 · answer #10 · answered by Too Curious 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋