LexBrew
Usage Entry 1382 / 1605 60-second read

Moon vs. Satellite

A natural body orbiting a planet versus any object (natural or artificial) orbiting another.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The GPS moons in low orbit.

✓ Correct

The GPS satellites in low orbit — "satellite" is the broader term. A MOON is specifically a natural satellite of a planet.

The ruleii

MOON = natural. SATELLITE = any.

A MOON is a natural satellite of a planet (Earth has one; Jupiter has 95+). A SATELLITE is any object orbiting another, natural or artificial. All moons are satellites; not all satellites are moons.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Every moon is a satellite.

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