Satellite vs. Moon — What's the Difference?

In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object that has been intentionally placed into orbit. These objects are called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as Earth's Moon.

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 object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body, as a device for reflecting or relaying radio signals or for capturing images.

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) A celestial body, such as a moon, planet, comet, or other solar system body, that orbits a larger body.

A natural satellite revolving around a planet.

A small unit in a system or organization that is managed or controlled by a larger, often centrally located unit.

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

A nation dominated politically and economically by another nation.

A month, especially a lunar month.

An urban or suburban community located near a big city.

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

One who attends a powerful dignitary; a subordinate.

Moonlight.

A subservient follower; a sycophant.

Something unreasonable or unattainable

(Genetics) A short segment of a chromosome separated from the rest by a constriction, typically associated with the formation of a nucleolus.

(Slang) The bared buttocks.

(Microbiology) A colony of microorganisms whose growth in culture medium is enhanced by certain substances produced by another colony in its proximity.

To wander about or pass time languidly and aimlessly.

Of, relating to, or being a satellite.

To yearn or pine as if infatuated.

Of or relating to the transmission of electromagnetic signals by communications satellite

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

A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one.

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

A man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body, generally to relay information, data etc. to Earth.

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

A country, state, office, building etc. which is under the jurisdiction, influence, or domination of another body.

Any natural satellite of a planet.

An attendant on an important person; a member of someone's retinue, often in a somewhat derogatory sense; a henchman.

(literary) A month, particularly a lunar month.

Satellite TV; reception of television broadcasts via services that utilize man-made satellite technology.

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

(grammar) A grammatical construct that takes various forms and may encode a path of movement, a change of state, or the grammatical aspect. Examples: "a bird flew past"; "she turned on the light".

A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.

To transmit by satellite.

The eighteenth trump/major arcana card of the Tarot.

An attendant attached to a prince or other powerful person; hence, an obsequious dependent.

(cartomancy) The thirty-second Lenormand card.

A secondary planet which revolves about another planet; as, the moon is a satellite of the earth. See Solar system, under Solar.

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

Situated near; accompanying; as, the satellite veins, those which accompany the arteries.

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

Man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon

To gaze at lovingly or in adoration.

A person who follows or serves another

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

Any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star

To spend time idly, absent-mindedly.

Broadcast or disseminate via satellite

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

Surrounding and dominated by a central authority or power;

(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;