The terms "moon," "satellite," and "planet" are used to describe different objects in our solar system. Here's an explanation of their distinctions:
Moon: A moon refers to a natural satellite that orbits a planet. Moons are celestial bodies that revolve around planets, just as our Moon orbits Earth. Moons are typically much smaller than the planets they orbit and are held in orbit by the gravitational pull of the planet they are associated with. Moons can have various characteristics, such as solid surfaces, atmospheres, or icy compositions.
Satellite: In a broader sense, a satellite refers to any object that orbits around another object due to gravitational forces. Satellites can be natural (like moons) or artificial (human-made). Natural satellites are typically referred to as moons, whereas human-made objects launched into space to orbit planets, moons, or other celestial bodies are called artificial satellites. Artificial satellites serve various purposes, such as communication, weather observation, scientific research, and more.
Planet: A planet is a large celestial body that orbits a star (in our case, the Sun) and is not a moon or a satellite of another planet. Planets are characterized by their spherical shape, their ability to clear their orbits of other debris, and their independent orbits around a star. In our solar system, there are eight recognized planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets vary in size, composition, atmosphere, and other properties.
It's important to note that these terms can sometimes overlap or be used in different contexts, but generally, they represent distinct categories of objects in our solar system based on their orbital and gravitational relationships with other celestial bodies.