Moon vs. Sun — What's the Difference?

It affects Earth’s tides through its gravitational pull.

The Sun’s gravity holds the solar system together.

It reflects sunlight, not producing its own light.

The Sun is a medium-sized star at the center of our solar system.

The Moon is Earth's natural satellite.

The Sun influences Earth's climate and weather.

The Moon has phases depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun.

It is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

The Moon's surface is covered in craters and dust.

It generates energy through nuclear fusion.

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.

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy mainly as visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.

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.

Often Sun The star around which Earth and other planets orbit. It provides heat and light to Earth. It has a mean distance from Earth of about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles), a diameter of approximately 1,391,000 kilometers (864,000 miles), and a mass about 333,000 times that of Earth.

A natural satellite revolving around a planet.

A star that is the center of a planetary system.

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

The radiant energy, especially heat and visible light, emitted by the sun; sunshine.

A month, especially a lunar month.

A sunlike object, representation, or design.

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

To expose to the sun's rays, as for warming, drying, or tanning.

Moonlight.

To expose oneself or itself to the sun.

Something unreasonable or unattainable

The star that the Earth revolves around and from which it receives light and warmth.

(Slang) The bared buttocks.

(astronomy) A star, especially when seen as the centre of any single solar system.

To wander about or pass time languidly and aimlessly.

The light and warmth which is received from the sun; sunshine or sunlight.

To yearn or pine as if infatuated.

(figurative) Something like the sun in brightness or splendor.

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

Sunrise or sunset.

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

A revolution of the Earth around the Sun; a year.

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

A transversing of the sky by the Sun; a day.

Any natural satellite of a planet.

The nineteenth trump/major arcana card of the Tarot.

(literary) A month, particularly a lunar month.

(cartomancy) The thirty-first Lenormand card.

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

A traditional Japanese unit of length, approximately 30.3 millimetres (1.193 inches).

A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.

(transitive) To expose to the warmth and radiation of the sun.

The eighteenth trump/major arcana card of the Tarot.

(transitive) To warm or dry in the sunshine.

(cartomancy) The thirty-second Lenormand card.

(intransitive) To be exposed to the sun.

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

To expose the eyes to the sun as part of the Bates method.

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

See Sunn.

To gaze at lovingly or in adoration.

The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes day, and its absence night; the central body round which the earth and planets revolve, by which they are held in their orbits, and from which they receive light and heat. Its mean distance from the earth is about 92,500,000 miles, and its diameter about 860,000.

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

Any heavenly body which forms the center of a system of orbs.

To spend time idly, absent-mindedly.

The direct light or warmth of the sun; sunshine.

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

That which resembles the sun, as in splendor or importance; any source of light, warmth, or animation.

(transitive) To adorn with moons or crescents.

To expose to the sun's rays; to warm or dry in the sun; as, to sun cloth; to sun grain.

To rise in price rapidly or suddenly.

A typical star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system;

(card games) To shoot the moon.

The rays of the sun;

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 person considered as a source of warmth or energy or glory etc

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

Any star around which a planetary system evolves

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

First day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

A crescentlike outwork. See Half-moon.

Expose one's body to the sun

The deliberately exposed naked buttocks.

Expose to the rays of the sun or affect by exposure to the sun;

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;

No, the Sun is below the horizon at night.

The Moon's phases result from its orbit, changing the portion illuminated by the Sun.

The Moon is about 384,400 km away from Earth.

Many species rely on the Moon's phases for breeding and migration.

The Sun’s energy travels to Earth as solar radiation, primarily light and heat.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.

The Moon is much smaller than the Sun but appears large because it is closer to Earth.

Sunspots are cooler, darker areas on the Sun's surface.

Solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the Sun’s atmosphere.

The Sun’s gravity influences Earth's orbit and its magnetic field impacts our space weather.

The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight.

No, the Moon does not generate light; it only reflects sunlight.

The Moon’s surface is primarily composed of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium, and aluminum.

Yes, intense solar activity can disrupt satellite communications and power grids.

Daytime temperatures on the Moon can reach up to 127 degrees Celsius.