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Moons

Planet with a Small Orbiting Moon

Natural satellites in orbit around a planet or dwarf planet, from Earths own Moon to the many moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Mars and Pluto. Belongs here: any body whose defining orbital relationship is around a planet or dwarf planet rather than the Sun directly. Does not belong here: the planet or dwarf planet itself being orbited, grouped under Planets and the Sun or Dwarf Planets, or a body orbiting the Sun directly with no planetary parent, grouped under Asteroids and Minor Planets, Comets or Trans-Neptunian and Outer Solar System Objects.

Facts
Comparison
Field Origin Era
1610 1
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Natural satellite
Wikimedia FoundationNatural satellite, Terminology section
Quote, Natural satellite, Terminology section
Until the discovery of the Galilean satellites in 1610 there was no opportunity for referring to such objects as a class.
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