Samuel Chiltern answered
There are at least 146 moons which orbit planets in the solar system, with approximately 25 more currently waiting for their status to be officially confirmed. There are also many other moons, which orbit dwarf planets and asteroids.
A more technical term for moon is 'satellite', which can apply to any object that orbits a planet, for example, an asteroid.
Outside our solar system, there are millions of planets with moons, but obviously, these are beyond the scope of this question.
What Makes the Earth's Moon Different From Other Moons?
I think the answer you're looking for is related to relative mass. Our moon is quite large compared to most moons in the solar system, although the largest moon, Ganymede (which orbits Jupiter) is about twice its size.
However, what makes our moon stand out from other moons is that it is very large by comparison with its host planet, i.e. The earth. The moon has approximately 25 percent of the earth's diameter, a fiftieth of its volume and an eightieth of its mass.
Although this might make it sound quite small by comparison, keep in mind that the earth is very dense for its size, because it has a dense core, made from heavy metals.
The earth's moon is also unique in that it is the sole moon to orbit our planet. All the other planets either have no moons at all, or more than one.
At the other extreme, Saturn has 53 confirmed moons. There is a theory that the earth once had more than one moon, but that it collided with our modern-day moon, compounding the two into one body.
A more technical term for moon is 'satellite', which can apply to any object that orbits a planet, for example, an asteroid.
Outside our solar system, there are millions of planets with moons, but obviously, these are beyond the scope of this question.
What Makes the Earth's Moon Different From Other Moons?
I think the answer you're looking for is related to relative mass. Our moon is quite large compared to most moons in the solar system, although the largest moon, Ganymede (which orbits Jupiter) is about twice its size.
However, what makes our moon stand out from other moons is that it is very large by comparison with its host planet, i.e. The earth. The moon has approximately 25 percent of the earth's diameter, a fiftieth of its volume and an eightieth of its mass.
Although this might make it sound quite small by comparison, keep in mind that the earth is very dense for its size, because it has a dense core, made from heavy metals.
The earth's moon is also unique in that it is the sole moon to orbit our planet. All the other planets either have no moons at all, or more than one.
At the other extreme, Saturn has 53 confirmed moons. There is a theory that the earth once had more than one moon, but that it collided with our modern-day moon, compounding the two into one body.
