How Big Is the Moon Compared to Earth?

The Moon is the fifth-largest satellite in the Solar System, and the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet it orbits. The Moon is approximately one-quarter the size of Earth, with a diameter of 3,476 kilometers (2,159 miles) compared to Earth’s 12,742 kilometers (7,917 miles).

The Moon’s mass is also much smaller than Earth’s, with a mass of only 1.2% that of Earth. This means that the Moon’s gravity is also much weaker than Earth’s, with only about 1/6th the gravitational pull.

Despite its relatively small size, the Moon has a significant impact on Earth. Its gravitational pull causes the tides and also helps to stabilize the tilt of Earth’s axis, which helps to regulate the climate. The Moon also plays a role in the evolution of life on Earth, as its gravitational pull causes a rise and fall in sea levels, which can affect the distribution of marine organisms.

The Moon’s proximity to Earth also makes it a valuable resource for scientific research and exploration. The Moon has been explored by various space missions, and it is also being considered as a potential location for future human settlements.

Whether you are an astronomy student or just a curious space buff, you may be asking yourself how big the Moon is compared to Earth. You’re not alone if you’ve heard that the Moon is just a little smaller than the Earth. But, unfortunately, it’s actually a common misconception. The truth is that the Moon is larger than the Earth.

Ganymede

Compared to Earth, the Moon is smaller. The Moon has a mean radius of 1,079.6 miles and orbits the Earth at a distance of 27 days and seven hours. In addition, the axial tilt of the Moon is 1.5 degrees. As a result, the Moon’s temperature ranges from 127 to -173 degrees Celsius.

The size of the Moon is similar to other small planets in the Solar System. The Moon is about the same size as Europa and Io. However, it is smaller than Titan, Saturn’s largest satellite, and Callisto, the second-largest Moon in the Solar System. In addition, it is slightly smaller than Pluto, which has a radius of 2,439.7 kilometers.

The Moon has a mass of 7.35 x 1022 kilograms, which is about 45 percent of that of Mercury. The core temperature of the Moon is between 1,327 and 1,427 degrees Celsius.

Ganymede is the only Moon in the Solar System that has a magnetic field. The magnetic field of Ganymede is embedded in Jupiter’s magnetic field, and the auroras on the Moon are affected by the planet’s magnetic field.

The inner ocean of Ganymede has been found to be more than ten times as thick as the ocean on Earth. Scientists believe that the ocean is buried beneath 95 miles of crust. The ocean may be a hospitable environment for native Ganymedan life. In addition, there has been evidence of salts from a subterranean ocean. These salts may have originated with magnesium sulfate.

In addition to its subsurface ocean, Ganymede has an observable magnetosphere. The induced magnetic field indicates high electrical conductivity. The magnetosphere is not strong enough to maintain a dense atmosphere. The atmosphere of the Moon is also too thin to support life as we know it. It is thought that the atmosphere is a combination of water vapor and volatiles trapped in the ice. The surface pressure of the atmosphere is between 0.2 and 1.2 micro Pascals.

Pluto

Compared to Earth’s Moon, Pluto is two-thirds smaller and almost half as wide. It also has a thinner atmosphere and a rocky surface. It is the ninth-largest object in direct orbit around the Sun.

There are five satellites orbiting Pluto. The moons are named after characters in Greek and Roman mythology. The largest is Charon, which is about half the size of Pluto. The other moons are Kerberos, Hydra, Nix, and Styx. These satellites are orbiting Pluto in 58,000-mile-diameter circular orbits.

These moons have a mean radius of approximately 377 miles (600 kilometers). Their diameters range from about 50 to 51 kilometers. They have a highly reflective surface because of water ice.

The surface of Pluto is characterized by mountains, valleys, and craters. In fact, the surface has a lot of similarities to the Moon. For example, it lacks a magnetic field and is mostly composed of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice.

The atmosphere of Pluto is relatively thin and tenuous, consisting mostly of nitrogen and methane. It expands outward as ice melts. It is estimated to have an atmosphere of approximately 1670 kilometers. The surface pressure is one gram per square meter.

At an average distance from the Sun, light takes about 5.5 hours to reach Pluto. This is because light travels at a rate of 186,000 miles per second. The diameter of Pluto is 73 miles (1,150 kilometers). It has a mass of about 1.3 x 1022 kilograms. The planet’s diameter is about half that of Earth’s Moon.

The planet’s orbit is relatively unusual, with periods of about 5 hours at its closest and 248 years at its furthest. Its eccentricity is moderate, ranging from about 0.4 degrees to about 58 degrees. Its distance from the Sun varies from 4.6 to 7.3 billion miles.

Charon

Described as a “mountain in a moat,” the northern hemisphere of Charon is darker than most other parts of the Moon. However, its polar cap is reddish in color, and scientists think it is due to the presence of tholins.

The surface of Charon is mostly made of water ice. It also contains active ice geysers. Its troughs are extensive.

The surface of Charon has some features that are unknown. For example, a large belt of jagged mountains cuts across the Pluto-facing hemisphere of Charon. This may be a result of cryovolcanism. In addition, tectonic valleys can be seen in the area.

The New Horizons mission studied the surface of Charon, revealing an array of spectacular features. It named some craters after popular Star Wars and Star Trek characters.

Charon’s surface has the largest number of impact craters of any known moon in the solar system. In addition, there are more craters in Charon’s northern hemisphere than in its southern hemisphere. These craters are a good indication that Charon’s surface is older than Pluto’s.

The surface of Charon is dotted with a number of asteroid-sized boulders. Unfortunately, its north pole is the darkest of all the areas on the Moon, and its south pole isn’t visible until 2107 when it will be in the polar night.

One of the most interesting features of Charon is its mountain. It is positioned in a deep hole and has stumped many scientists. Its shape is similar to a large sphere, which would have been possible if the volume of the planet had changed.

The surface of Charon is also a good example of the effects of Pluto’s atmosphere on its surface. It has nitrogen and methane ice. The atmosphere is also influenced by ultraviolet light from the Sun.

Mars

Compared to Earth, the Moon is very small. It has a volume of about 2% of the Earth’s and weighs only about 60 percent of the mass of the planet. Nonetheless, it is the fifth largest satellite in the solar system, after Jupiter, Io, Pluto, and Mercury. Despite its relatively small size, the Moon is also the brightest celestial object in the night sky.

The Moon has a diameter of about 3,476 kilometers and a surface area of about 37.9 million square kilometers. Its density is 3.3 g/cm3. The Moon’s density is only 1.25% of the mass of the Earth.

The core region of the Earth is composed of a solid inner core with a radius of about 1,220 kilometers and a liquid outer core with a radius of about 3,400 kilometers. Both are made of iron and nickel. The mantle is made of silicate rocks, and the crust is made of igneous and granite rocks.

Earth’s Moon is about one-fourth the size of the Earth, with a diameter of about 2159 miles and a volume of about 21.9 billion cubic kilometers. The Moon is the second densest satellite in the solar system, after Jupiterian io.

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. They were discovered in August 1877 by American astronomer Asaph Hall. They are named after twin Greek mythological characters, Phobos, who represents fear, and Deimos, who represents terror. They both orbit the planet, and it takes about eleven hours for Phobos to rise and another eleven hours for Deimos to rise. Both moons are irregularly shaped. They take about 2.7 days to reach apoapsis or their closest point to the planet, and they slowly fall behind the rotation of the planet.

Surface Area

The Moon’s surface area is smaller than Earth’s, and its volume is larger. The difference is the largest in the entire solar system. The Moon is an oblate spheroid, which means that its diameter is smaller at the poles than its length.

The Moon’s surface is also divided into two hemispheres. The far side is not visible from the Earth and has different appearances from the near side. The Moon is also geologically active, and its cratering is more pronounced than the Earth’s. However, erosive processes are slow on the Moon and only slightly alter the surface.

The Moon has a density of 3.34 grams per cubic centimeter, which is roughly 60 percent of the Earth’s density. The Moon’s mass is 1.25% of the Earth’s, or 7.342 x 1022 kilograms. This makes the Moon the fifth largest satellite in the solar system.

The Moon’s volume is 2.1958 x 1010 kilometer3 or about 2% of the Earth’s volume. The Moon has a mean radius of 3474.8 km or about 2159 miles. The Moon’s surface area is approximately 37.9 million square kilometers or about 16.7 million square miles. This makes the Moon about the size of the United States, Canada, or Russia.

The diameter of the Moon is about 2159 miles or about 73% of the circumference. The distance between New York City and Honolulu in Hawaii is 7996 kilometers or about 4968 miles. The Moon’s surface area is less than the total surface area of Asia, which is 44.4 million square kilometers, or about 6.5 million square miles. The surface area of Australia is bigger than the Moon, but it is a flat land mass.

FAQ’s

How big is the moon compared to Earth?

The moon is about 1/4 the size of Earth in diameter.

What is the diameter of the Moon?

The diameter of the Moon is about 3,476 kilometers.

How does the size of the Moon compare to other objects in our solar system?

The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system and the largest among planetary satellites relative to its host planet.

Can the Moon be seen from Earth without any assistance?

Yes, the Moon can be seen from Earth without any assistance.

How does the size of the Moon compare to Earth’s other natural satellite?

Earth does not have any other natural satellite.

Are there any other planets in the solar system with a similar-sized natural satellite?

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede and Saturn’s moon Titan are similar in size to the Moon compared to their host planet.

How Big Is the Moon Compared to Earth?

The Moon is the fifth-largest satellite in the Solar System, and the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet it orbits. The Moon is approximately one-quarter the size of Earth, with a diameter of 3,476 kilometers (2,159 miles) compared to Earth’s 12,742 kilometers (7,917 miles).

The Moon’s mass is also much smaller than Earth’s, with a mass of only 1.2% that of Earth. This means that the Moon’s gravity is also much weaker than Earth’s, with only about 1/6th the gravitational pull.

Despite its relatively small size, the Moon has a significant impact on Earth. Its gravitational pull causes the tides and also helps to stabilize the tilt of Earth’s axis, which helps to regulate the climate. The Moon also plays a role in the evolution of life on Earth, as its gravitational pull causes a rise and fall in sea levels, which can affect the distribution of marine organisms.

The Moon’s proximity to Earth also makes it a valuable resource for scientific research and exploration. The Moon has been explored by various space missions, and it is also being considered as a potential location for future human settlements.

Whether you are an astronomy student or just a curious space buff, you may be asking yourself how big the Moon is compared to Earth. You’re not alone if you’ve heard that the Moon is just a little smaller than the Earth. But, unfortunately, it’s actually a common misconception. The truth is that the Moon is larger than the Earth.

Ganymede

Compared to Earth, the Moon is smaller. The Moon has a mean radius of 1,079.6 miles and orbits the Earth at a distance of 27 days and seven hours. In addition, the axial tilt of the Moon is 1.5 degrees. As a result, the Moon’s temperature ranges from 127 to -173 degrees Celsius.

The size of the Moon is similar to other small planets in the Solar System. The Moon is about the same size as Europa and Io. However, it is smaller than Titan, Saturn’s largest satellite, and Callisto, the second-largest Moon in the Solar System. In addition, it is slightly smaller than Pluto, which has a radius of 2,439.7 kilometers.

The Moon has a mass of 7.35 x 1022 kilograms, which is about 45 percent of that of Mercury. The core temperature of the Moon is between 1,327 and 1,427 degrees Celsius.

Ganymede is the only Moon in the Solar System that has a magnetic field. The magnetic field of Ganymede is embedded in Jupiter’s magnetic field, and the auroras on the Moon are affected by the planet’s magnetic field.

The inner ocean of Ganymede has been found to be more than ten times as thick as the ocean on Earth. Scientists believe that the ocean is buried beneath 95 miles of crust. The ocean may be a hospitable environment for native Ganymedan life. In addition, there has been evidence of salts from a subterranean ocean. These salts may have originated with magnesium sulfate.

In addition to its subsurface ocean, Ganymede has an observable magnetosphere. The induced magnetic field indicates high electrical conductivity. The magnetosphere is not strong enough to maintain a dense atmosphere. The atmosphere of the Moon is also too thin to support life as we know it. It is thought that the atmosphere is a combination of water vapor and volatiles trapped in the ice. The surface pressure of the atmosphere is between 0.2 and 1.2 micro Pascals.

Pluto

Compared to Earth’s Moon, Pluto is two-thirds smaller and almost half as wide. It also has a thinner atmosphere and a rocky surface. It is the ninth-largest object in direct orbit around the Sun.

There are five satellites orbiting Pluto. The moons are named after characters in Greek and Roman mythology. The largest is Charon, which is about half the size of Pluto. The other moons are Kerberos, Hydra, Nix, and Styx. These satellites are orbiting Pluto in 58,000-mile-diameter circular orbits.

These moons have a mean radius of approximately 377 miles (600 kilometers). Their diameters range from about 50 to 51 kilometers. They have a highly reflective surface because of water ice.

The surface of Pluto is characterized by mountains, valleys, and craters. In fact, the surface has a lot of similarities to the Moon. For example, it lacks a magnetic field and is mostly composed of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice.

The atmosphere of Pluto is relatively thin and tenuous, consisting mostly of nitrogen and methane. It expands outward as ice melts. It is estimated to have an atmosphere of approximately 1670 kilometers. The surface pressure is one gram per square meter.

At an average distance from the Sun, light takes about 5.5 hours to reach Pluto. This is because light travels at a rate of 186,000 miles per second. The diameter of Pluto is 73 miles (1,150 kilometers). It has a mass of about 1.3 x 1022 kilograms. The planet’s diameter is about half that of Earth’s Moon.

The planet’s orbit is relatively unusual, with periods of about 5 hours at its closest and 248 years at its furthest. Its eccentricity is moderate, ranging from about 0.4 degrees to about 58 degrees. Its distance from the Sun varies from 4.6 to 7.3 billion miles.

Charon

Described as a “mountain in a moat,” the northern hemisphere of Charon is darker than most other parts of the Moon. However, its polar cap is reddish in color, and scientists think it is due to the presence of tholins.

The surface of Charon is mostly made of water ice. It also contains active ice geysers. Its troughs are extensive.

The surface of Charon has some features that are unknown. For example, a large belt of jagged mountains cuts across the Pluto-facing hemisphere of Charon. This may be a result of cryovolcanism. In addition, tectonic valleys can be seen in the area.

The New Horizons mission studied the surface of Charon, revealing an array of spectacular features. It named some craters after popular Star Wars and Star Trek characters.

Charon’s surface has the largest number of impact craters of any known moon in the solar system. In addition, there are more craters in Charon’s northern hemisphere than in its southern hemisphere. These craters are a good indication that Charon’s surface is older than Pluto’s.

The surface of Charon is dotted with a number of asteroid-sized boulders. Unfortunately, its north pole is the darkest of all the areas on the Moon, and its south pole isn’t visible until 2107 when it will be in the polar night.

One of the most interesting features of Charon is its mountain. It is positioned in a deep hole and has stumped many scientists. Its shape is similar to a large sphere, which would have been possible if the volume of the planet had changed.

The surface of Charon is also a good example of the effects of Pluto’s atmosphere on its surface. It has nitrogen and methane ice. The atmosphere is also influenced by ultraviolet light from the Sun.

Mars

Compared to Earth, the Moon is very small. It has a volume of about 2% of the Earth’s and weighs only about 60 percent of the mass of the planet. Nonetheless, it is the fifth largest satellite in the solar system, after Jupiter, Io, Pluto, and Mercury. Despite its relatively small size, the Moon is also the brightest celestial object in the night sky.

The Moon has a diameter of about 3,476 kilometers and a surface area of about 37.9 million square kilometers. Its density is 3.3 g/cm3. The Moon’s density is only 1.25% of the mass of the Earth.

The core region of the Earth is composed of a solid inner core with a radius of about 1,220 kilometers and a liquid outer core with a radius of about 3,400 kilometers. Both are made of iron and nickel. The mantle is made of silicate rocks, and the crust is made of igneous and granite rocks.

Earth’s Moon is about one-fourth the size of the Earth, with a diameter of about 2159 miles and a volume of about 21.9 billion cubic kilometers. The Moon is the second densest satellite in the solar system, after Jupiterian io.

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. They were discovered in August 1877 by American astronomer Asaph Hall. They are named after twin Greek mythological characters, Phobos, who represents fear, and Deimos, who represents terror. They both orbit the planet, and it takes about eleven hours for Phobos to rise and another eleven hours for Deimos to rise. Both moons are irregularly shaped. They take about 2.7 days to reach apoapsis or their closest point to the planet, and they slowly fall behind the rotation of the planet.

Surface Area

The Moon’s surface area is smaller than Earth’s, and its volume is larger. The difference is the largest in the entire solar system. The Moon is an oblate spheroid, which means that its diameter is smaller at the poles than its length.

The Moon’s surface is also divided into two hemispheres. The far side is not visible from the Earth and has different appearances from the near side. The Moon is also geologically active, and its cratering is more pronounced than the Earth’s. However, erosive processes are slow on the Moon and only slightly alter the surface.

The Moon has a density of 3.34 grams per cubic centimeter, which is roughly 60 percent of the Earth’s density. The Moon’s mass is 1.25% of the Earth’s, or 7.342 x 1022 kilograms. This makes the Moon the fifth largest satellite in the solar system.

The Moon’s volume is 2.1958 x 1010 kilometer3 or about 2% of the Earth’s volume. The Moon has a mean radius of 3474.8 km or about 2159 miles. The Moon’s surface area is approximately 37.9 million square kilometers or about 16.7 million square miles. This makes the Moon about the size of the United States, Canada, or Russia.

The diameter of the Moon is about 2159 miles or about 73% of the circumference. The distance between New York City and Honolulu in Hawaii is 7996 kilometers or about 4968 miles. The Moon’s surface area is less than the total surface area of Asia, which is 44.4 million square kilometers, or about 6.5 million square miles. The surface area of Australia is bigger than the Moon, but it is a flat land mass.

FAQ’s

How big is the moon compared to Earth?

The moon is about 1/4 the size of Earth in diameter.

What is the diameter of the Moon?

The diameter of the Moon is about 3,476 kilometers.

How does the size of the Moon compare to other objects in our solar system?

The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system and the largest among planetary satellites relative to its host planet.

Can the Moon be seen from Earth without any assistance?

Yes, the Moon can be seen from Earth without any assistance.

How does the size of the Moon compare to Earth’s other natural satellite?

Earth does not have any other natural satellite.

Are there any other planets in the solar system with a similar-sized natural satellite?

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede and Saturn’s moon Titan are similar in size to the Moon compared to their host planet.