Difference between Earth and Moon
Key Difference: The primary difference between the Earth and Moon is that the Earth is a planet, whereas the moon is merely a satellite orbiting Earth.
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Moon and earth are interconnected with each other. This is also one of the reasons why life exists on our planet. The major difference between earth and the moon is that the earth is a planet, while the moon is merely a satellite orbiting earth.
The earth is a planet, which is spherical in shape, and revolves around the sun. Earth is a planet that has life; it is composed of many minerals and is a solid mass that is compacted with rocks. The Earth rotates on its axis from the west to east and revolves around the Sun. The Earth completes one rotation in 24 hours and one revolution around the sun in 365 days. Hence, this time period is called a year.
See the difference between the earth and other planets.
Earth rotates from the west to east around an imaginary line, which passes through the two poles, i.e. the north and the south pole. These poles are perpendicular to the plane of the equator, which is why this imaginary line is called the axis of Earth’s rotation.
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Moon is the natural satellite of many planets. These natural satellites orbit around a primary body, mainly the planets or large enough asteroids. Natural satellites were once rocks that had been left over, after the solar system and the planets in it were formed. These rocks either fell into an orbit around their nearest largest asteroid or planet or floated away into space. For example, the Moon orbits around the Earth, but as the Earth orbits the Sun, the Moon also orbits the Sun, while following the Earth.
The moon goes through a cycle of its phases every month. It takes approximately 29.5 days to complete this cycle. This period of 29.53 days is called a ‘lunar month’. The moon is the only other place where humans have walked on.
Also see: Difference between dwarf planets and moons
Difference between Earth and Moon:
Earth | Moon | |
Description (According to Dictionary.com) | The Earth is the planet third in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 7926 miles (12,755 km) and a polar diameter of 7900 miles (12,714 km), a mean distance from the sun of 92.9 million miles (149.6 million km), and a period of revolution of 365.26 days, having one natural satellite. | Moon is the earth's natural satellite, orbiting the earth at a mean distance of 238,857 miles (384,393 km) and having a diameter of 2160 miles (3476 km). |
Major difference | The Earth is a planet. | The moon is a satellite orbiting Earth. |
Atmosphere | The Earth supports atmosphere/life. | The Moon is incapable of supporting life. |
Weather | The Earth comprises of weather changes. | The moon does not have weather changes. |
Diameter | The earth is the largest of the four terrestrial planets in size and mass. | The moon has one-fourth of the earth’s total diameter and much less mass. |
Type of erosion | Water, wind, ice, heat | Impact |
Landscape | Varied | Craters, dust, rocks |
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