Why is the moon called a satellite?

Answer 1

The word "satellite" was in use long before being used to mean "scientific machines orbiting the Earth." It was used for the natural satellites (moons) of planets, for countries in eastern Europe that were dominated by the USSR, and for such things as smaller airport terminals separate from the main one (as in Seattle).

Most people now use "satellite" to mean manmade satellites, and use the adjective "natural" when they are talking about moons, or "the Moon." The astronomical definition of a moon or satellite is a substantially smaller body that orbits a larger one. All satellites of planets also orbit the Sun at the same time, but they are considered separately from the asteroids and minor objects that do not orbit a planet but rather circle the Sun on their own.

Answer 2

In a way yes. But the correct answer is no. The Moon is a Satellite of the Earth, but the Earth is a satellite of the sun , so in a way the moon is a satellite of the sun but is not classed as such

Answer 3

The moon is a natural satellite because it is Not man-made and it is made of Rocks and Iron and it is naturally made by pressures and collisions of asteroids or some other rocks from outer space...This is all I know.. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong..

Answer 4

Anything that orbits another thing in space is considered a satellite. The Earth is a satellite of the Sun, all of the planets are, and they have their moons, which are satellites of those planets.

A satellite can be synthetic or natural. Synthetic satellites would be communications satellites or the International Space Station, and a natural one would be the moon.

Answer 5

The moon is called a satellite because it revolves around the Earth and the center of mass of the system is inside the Earth (had the moon been much more massive and the center of mass somewhere between the Moon and the Earth, it would be called a "binary system")

The Moon is called natural because it was not made by man or any other being.

So the Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.

Answer 6

yes because satellite and moon are just the same..

Answer 7

Because it is the only natural object (that's also bigger than Earth) orbiting Earth. It is the only natural satellite because all the other satellites are man made and artificial.

Answer 8

It orbits a larger body, the definition of a satellite.

Answer 9

The Moon is a natural satellite because:

1) It is natural. This means that it is not made by humans.

2) It is a satellite. This means that it is in orbit around Earth.

Answer 10

It is a satellite of the earth.