Moon vs. Asteroid — What's the Difference?

Earth’s natural satellite known for its phases.

A small rocky body orbiting the sun.

A reference to something round and bright.

Used in studies to understand the solar system.

A celestial body that orbits a planet.

Composed mainly of rock and metal.

Used metaphorically to describe remoteness.

Known for their potential to collide with Earth.

Symbolic of regular renewal.

Occasionally enters Earth’s atmosphere.

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. At about one-quarter the diameter of Earth (comparable to the width of Australia), it is the largest natural satellite in the Solar System relative to the size of its planet, the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System overall, and is larger than any known dwarf planet.

An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Historically, these terms have been applied to any astronomical object orbiting the Sun that did not resolve into a disc in a telescope and was not observed to have characteristics of an active comet such as a tail.

Often Moon The natural satellite of Earth, visible by reflection of sunlight and having a slightly elliptical orbit, approximately 363,100 kilometers (225,600 miles) distant at perigee and 405,700 kilometers (252,100 miles) at apogee. Its mean diameter is 3,475 kilometers (2,159 miles), its mass approximately one eightieth that of Earth, and its average period of revolution around Earth 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes calculated with respect to the sun.

(Astronomy) Any of numerous small solar system bodies that revolve around the sun, with orbits lying chiefly between Mars and Jupiter and characteristic diameters roughly between one and several hundred kilometers. Also called minor planet, planetoid.

A natural satellite revolving around a planet.

(Zoology) See starfish.

The moon as it appears at a particular time in its cycle of phases

Star-shaped.

A month, especially a lunar month.

(zoology) Any member of the taxonomic class Asteroidea; a starfish

A disk, globe, or crescent resembling the natural satellite of Earth.

(astronomy) A naturally occurring solid object, which is smaller than a planet, larger than a meteoroid and not a comet, that orbits a star and often has an irregular shape.

Moonlight.

(astronomy) In the Solar system, such a body that orbits within the orbit of Jupiter

Something unreasonable or unattainable

A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; - called also planetoids and minor planets.

(Slang) The bared buttocks.

Any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)

To wander about or pass time languidly and aimlessly.

Shaped like a star

To yearn or pine as if infatuated.

(Slang) To expose one's buttocks in public as a prank or disrespectful gesture.

(Slang) To expose one's buttocks to (others) as a prank or disrespectful gesture

Senseid|en|Q405}} {{alternative case form of Moon.

Any natural satellite of a planet.

(literary) A month, particularly a lunar month.

A representation of the moon, usually as a crescent or as a circle with a face; a crescent-shaped shape, symbol, or object.

A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.

The eighteenth trump/major arcana card of the Tarot.

(cartomancy) The thirty-second Lenormand card.

(card games) In hearts, the action of taking all the point cards in one hand.

To display one's buttocks to, typically as a jest, insult, or protest.

To gaze at lovingly or in adoration.

(usually followed by over or after) To fuss over something adoringly; to be infatuated with someone.

To spend time idly, absent-mindedly.

(transitive) To expose to the rays of the Moon.

(transitive) To adorn with moons or crescents.

To rise in price rapidly or suddenly.

(card games) To shoot the moon.

The celestial orb which revolves round the earth; the satellite of the earth; a secondary planet, whose light, borrowed from the sun, is reflected to the earth, and serves to dispel the darkness of night. The diameter of the moon is 2,160 miles, its mean distance from the earth is 240,000 miles, and its mass is one eightieth that of the earth. See Lunar month, under Month.

A secondary planet, or satellite, revolving about any member of the solar system; as, the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.

The time occupied by the moon in making one revolution in her orbit; a month.

A crescentlike outwork. See Half-moon.

The deliberately exposed naked buttocks.

To expose to the rays of the moon.

To expose one's naked buttocks to (a person); - a vulgar sign of contempt or disrespect, sometimes done as a prank.

To act if moonstruck; to wander or gaze about in an abstracted manner.

The natural satellite of the Earth;

Any object resembling a moon;

The period between successive new moons (29.531 days)

The light of the moon;

United States religious leader (born in Korea) who founded the Unification Church in 1954; was found guilty of conspiracy to evade taxes (born in 1920)

Any natural satellite of a planet;

Have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake;

Be idle in a listless or dreamy way

Expose one's buttocks to;

Yes, some asteroids known as Trojan asteroids share orbits with planets, and a few have been found to orbit larger asteroids.

The Moon orbits Earth in a nearly circular path, while asteroids have a wide range of orbital shapes, many of which are highly elliptical.

The phases of the Moon are caused by the changing positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth.

The largest asteroid is Ceres, which is also classified as a dwarf planet, measuring about 940 km in diameter, significantly smaller than the Moon.

No, asteroids generally do not have atmospheres because they lack sufficient gravity to retain gaseous molecules.

The Moon is significantly larger with a diameter of about 3,474 km, while most asteroids are much smaller, typically ranging from a few meters to several hundred kilometers in diameter.

Scientists study asteroids using telescopes, space missions, and sometimes by analyzing meteorites that have fallen to Earth.

The Moon is constantly hit by meteoroids due to its lack of atmosphere. Earth experiences fewer impacts because its atmosphere burns up smaller meteoroids, but significant asteroid impacts, though rare, have occurred and can be catastrophic.

The Moon has been explored by missions like Apollo (manned) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (unmanned). Asteroids have been studied by missions like OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2, which are unmanned.

The Moon experiences extreme temperatures ranging from about -173°C to 127°C. Asteroids, depending on their proximity to the Sun and their rotation, can also experience extreme temperature variations.

The Moon has a significant gravitational influence on Earth, affecting tides and stabilizing Earth’s rotation. Asteroids have negligible gravitational impacts on Earth due to their smaller sizes.

The Moon has had a profound influence on various cultures, calendars, and mythologies throughout human history. Asteroids have been studied scientifically in more recent times and are of interest due to their potential for Earth impacts and resources.

The Moon is a target for future human colonization and as a staging point for deeper space exploration. Asteroids are of interest for mining resources and also for understanding the early solar system, which can inform future space missions.

Yes, some larger asteroids have their own small moons, which are typically other smaller asteroids captured by their gravity.

The Moon’s surface features include craters, maria (basaltic plains), highlands, and valleys, shaped by both internal processes and external impacts.