Moons of the Solar System
Contents
Overview
A moon is a natural satellite of a planet. There are many moons in our solar system, Jupiter has 64, Saturn has 62, Mercury and Venus have none, and Earth has one.
Moons also vary in size and shape from the Martian moon called Phobos that looks like a potato, to Ganymede the largest moon in the solar system, larger than the planet Mercury.
Earth's moon
The Moon
Credit: NASA/JPL
| Name | Mean Radius | Volume | Mass | Discoverer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Moon | 1737.5 km | 2.197 x 1010 km3 | 7.3477 x 1022 kg | Known since prehistory |
Known since prehistoric times the Moon is Earth's companion in our solar system. The moon affects the tides and provides stability to Earth's axis.
