Moon vs. Planet: What's the Difference?
The difference is what they orbit. A planet orbits a star directly — Earth orbits the Sun. A moon (a natural satellite) orbits a planet — our Moon orbits Earth. So moons are 'second-tier': they go around planets, which in turn go around a star. Neither makes its own light; both shine by reflecting sunlight.
See the difference, explained visually.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson comparing moon and planet.
At a glance
| Moon | Planet | |
|---|---|---|
| Orbits | A planet | A star |
| Also called | A natural satellite | — |
| Makes own light? | No (reflects sunlight) | No (reflects sunlight) |
| Relative size | Usually smaller than its planet | Larger; orbits the star directly |
| Example | Earth's Moon; Jupiter's Europa | Earth, Mars, Jupiter |
Which should you use?
Moon
It's a moon when the body orbits a planet rather than the star — like our Moon orbiting Earth, or the dozens of moons around Jupiter and Saturn.
Planet
It's a planet when the body orbits the star directly and has cleared its orbit — like Earth orbiting the Sun.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Moon a planet?
- No. The Moon orbits a planet (Earth), which makes it a natural satellite, not a planet. Planets orbit the star directly.
- Can a moon be bigger than a planet?
- Yes — some moons (like Jupiter's Ganymede) are larger than the planet Mercury. Size doesn't define them; what they orbit does.
- Do moons make their own light?
- No. Like planets, moons have no light of their own — they shine only by reflecting sunlight.