Q
What is the difference between a moon and a planet?
A
Expert Answer
Planets orbit stars and are massive enough for hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape), having cleared their orbital neighborhood. Moons (natural satellites) orbit planets. The distinction can be blurry—Pluto's moon Charon is so large relative to Pluto that some consider them a binary system.
Key Insight
Planets orbit stars and are massive enough for hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape), having cleared their orbital neighborhood.
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