Difference Between Moons and Planets

The space is very vast and there are many things that can be found in it, some have probably not even been imagined until now; however, others have been extensively studied. Difference Between Moons and Planets

In addition to all the stardust, special debris, areas with strange behaviors of gravity … There are some astronomical bodies that, due to their relationships and behaviors, attract attention more often than others. For example, many planets have satellites. Our planet has one: the Moon. This leads to the question What is the difference between planets and moons?

It is important to clarify that although only our satellite is called the Moon, we often use the word “moons” to refer to satellites in a general sense; therefore, it is important that before you begin reading the following, you note that the words moons and satellites will be used synonymously or interchangeably.

If you have doubts about the difference between satellites (moons) and planets or are simply looking for a little more information to complement what you already know, then continue reading, because below we explain everything you need know around this interesting topic.

PLANETS  Difference Between Moons and Planets

Planets are objects that orbit around a star or the remains of the latter, this mainly due to the gravity that both bodies possess. They generally follow an elliptical orbit; but the shape can vary depending on the gravitational force of each particular planet and star.

Likewise, it is the gravitational force that makes it possible for planets to have a round shape. In addition, this force is powerful enough for the planet to be able to clean all the debris that may accumulate around it. Almost all debris is absorbed by the planet, but in some cases it is pushed into space. When an object appears that is large enough to have a considerable gravitational pull on its own, then that object can become the satellite or moon of the planet that is closest to it.

MOONS

On the other hand, moons are the natural satellites of the planets. These orbit around a primary body that is not necessarily limited to a planet, it could also be an asteroid.

The moons that we know so far are rocks that were left behind after the formation of the solar system and planets. These rocks fell into orbit with the largest body closest to them: asteroids or planets. Some who did not find a body that had the aforementioned characteristics continued to drift.

Finally, moons vary greatly in size, some are even larger than planets. For example, Ganymede, the moon of Jupiter and Titan; Saturn’s are larger than the planet Mercury. In the same way, just as there are planets without moons (Mercury and Venus), there are others that have more than twenty moons (Neptune and Uranus), but in the end the real difference between planets and moons is that the former orbit around stars. , while the latter do so around planets, asteroids and other primary objects. Satellites only orbit the stars as they follow their planets.