A moon can be defined as a natural satellite that rotates all round the planets. Moons usually vary in their sizes with every planet being bigger than its moon. However, there are several moons which are bigger than Pluto planet and only two moons that are larger than Mercury. Mercury and Venus don’t have any moons while the earth has just one moon (Space Today Online). The earth’s moon is one of the largest natural satellites with 2,160 miles diameter. This moon is much closer to the earth than the rest and can be seen through the use of a telescope. Mars has the smallest moon known as the Deimos,with a diameter of 7 miles.
On the other hand, Jupiter has the most moons; four large moons planet size called, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa and Lo. Callisto is at the outermost and is the most heavily ancient and cratered among the rest. It has huge water oceans in it and a layering which appears to be primarily a mixture of rock and ice. Lo, a sulfurous moon is in the innermost and the most volcanic; with several active volcanoes. Its surface area is covered with different color forms sulphur. Due to Jupiter’s massive gravity and the slight elliptical orbit as Lo travels, tides form making the solid surface to rise over Lo which generates heat that causes volcanic actions. Europa is an icy surface which is thought to occupy warm liquid water or slush. This moon is said to have a habitable zone. Ganymede on the other hand is one of the largest Jupiter’s moon as well as in the Solar System. Actually, Ganymede’s diameter is bigger in diameter than Mercury and Pluto.
Conversely, Saturn has several unique moons such as Titan (largest) with a thick atmosphere which is rich in organic nitrogen and with a surface temperature which is about two hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit. Mimas also has a massive crater with Enceladus having a brighter surface and water volcanoes that are active. Around Tethys’ surface runs three quarter way around canyon.
On the other hand, Uranus' moons have statuesque mountains that towers in a height more than 10 miles. These moons have vast plains, deep valleys, mystifying dark surface and a diameter ranging from 25 about 1,100 miles (Space Today Online). Neptune has two large moons known as Nereid and Triton. This two has a 391 degrees temperature. Triton is believed to have nitrogen on the water ice top and a thin covering made of methane. It has a 2,361 diameter almost the same size with the earth’s moon. Nereid’s diameter is about 210 miles.
Work cited
Space Today Online. Moons of the Solar System. 2004. Web. 4. May. 2011
