Moons

Natural satellites come in all sizes, from small rocks to worlds with oceans and atmospheres.

Saturn's rings seen almost edge-on, with several moons as small dots nearby.
It's Full of Moons!. Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute. Source, NASA media guidelines.

A moon is a natural object that orbits a planet, a dwarf planet or an asteroid. In the Solar System there are hundreds of known moons, and new ones are still being discovered around the giant planets.

Mercury and Venus have no moons, Earth has one and Mars has two. Most moons belong to the giant planets, and some of them are among the most interesting places in the Solar System.

  • The Moon: Earth's companion and the only other world people have walked on.
  • Europa: an icy moon of Jupiter with a hidden ocean.
  • Titan: Saturn's largest moon, with lakes of liquid methane.