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Moon

Moons of the Solar System

  • A moon is a large object revolving around a planet
  • Roughly $\frac{1}{3}$ of the moons in the outer solar system are in direct orbits
    • Regular orbit
    • Revolve west --> east
  • Major of the moons are irregular
    • Retrograde orbit (east --> west)
    • Orbit has high eccentricity
      • More elliptical than circular
    • High inclination
      • Moving in and out of the planet's equatorial plane
    • Irregular moons are mostly located relatively far from their planet
    • Probably formed elsewhere and were captured by the planet

Astronomy Space