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natural satellite

vr.tr.natural-satellite · thing-q2537

Let an agent explain natural satellites, relay types, formation, notable moons and the status of exomoons from planetary science sources with counts checked against current data, describe the named forms, and distinguish natural satellites from planets, dwarf planets, artificial satellites, ring particles and quasi-satellites.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.OBJ

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Understand What a natural satellite is.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is a natural satellite, and how does it differ from planets, dwarf planets, artificial satellites, ring particles and quasi-satellites? definition
  2. Is the question about a current moon count, which should be checked against current sources? boundary

Forms

Named forms.

Forms

Forms.

  1. What are regular, co-orbital and extrasolar moons, and what are claimed moons of Earth? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific form? action
Formation Formation.

Origins

Origins of moons.

Origins

Origins.

  1. How do moons form by accretion, capture or giant impact? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Orbits

Orbit types.

Orbits

Orbits.

  1. How do regular and irregular moon orbits differ? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Moons Notable moons.

Large moons

Large moons.

Large moons

Large moons.

  1. What are notable large moons such as Ganymede, Titan and the Moon? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Titan? action

Small moons

Moonlets.

Small moons

Small moons.

  1. What are irregular moons and moonlets? provenance
  2. Is the information accurate? boundary
Context Exomoons.

Exomoons

Extrasolar moons.

Exomoons

Exomoons.

  1. What is the status of exomoon detection, checked against current sources? provenance
  2. Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary

Quasi-satellites

Quasi-satellites.

Quasi-satellites

Quasi-satellites.

  1. Why are Earth s quasi-satellites not true moons? provenance
  2. Which entry fits quasi-satellite? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.OBJ
Other names and narrower kinds
co-orbital moon, extrasolar moon, claimed moons of Earth, unconfirmed extrasolar moon, regular moon, planetary moon, captured moon, Moonbeam, irregular moon, icy moon, moonlet, shepherd moon

What it is Filled

A celestial body that orbits a planet, dwarf planet or smaller body, also called a moon, ranging from large moons such as Ganymede and Titan, bigger than Mercury, to tiny irregular moonlets; forms the registry aliases name include regular moons on close circular orbits formed with their planet, planetary moons in general, co-orbital moons sharing an orbit, and exomoons or extrasolar moons around planets of other stars, which remain unconfirmed, along with claimed moons of Earth, historical or quasi-satellite claims that are not true moons. The Solar System has hundreds of known moons, and counts change as surveys continue, so figures should be checked against current sources.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain natural satellites, relay types, formation, notable moons and the status of exomoons from planetary science sources with counts checked against current data, describe the named forms, and distinguish natural satellites from planets, dwarf planets, artificial satellites, ring particles and quasi-satellites.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Orbits a planet or body
  • Regular or irregular orbits
  • Varied sizes
  • Exomoons unconfirmed

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Present a stale moon count as current.
  • Count a quasi-satellite as a true moon or exclude a temporarily captured natural body solely because its orbit around the host is temporary.
  • Present exomoon candidates as confirmed discoveries.
  • Attribute a discovery to the wrong team or person.

Only with a human decision

  • Announcing a new moon or exomoon discovery to the public.

May

  • Give the number of known moons of a body with a source and date.
  • Explain how moons form and how quasi-satellites differ from true moons.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Public trust in science depends on not overstating discoveries.
  • Credit for discoveries matters to the researchers who made them.

Who is affected

  • Astronomers
  • Students and the public

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody owns them; the International Astronomical Union names and recognises them.

Master systems

  • Minor Planet Center and planetary satellite data

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q1297322 - registry parent class
  • Q3132741 - registry parent class

related

  • satellite - in registry terms
  • planet
  • artificial satellite
  • quasi-satellite

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.natural-satellite
  • Wikidata: Q2537 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2537)

Direct properties required Filled

  • largest moon: Ganymede note - larger than Mercury
  • known Solar System moons: hundreds count - check current
  • confirmed exomoons: none firmly confirmed note - check current

Recognition required Filled

  • Body orbiting a planet or smaller body
  • Co-orbital moon, extrasolar moon, claimed moons of Earth, unconfirmed extrasolar moon, regular moon, planetary moon
  • Planets orbit the Sun; dwarf planets are smaller; artificial satellites are made; ring particles are tiny; quasi-satellites only appear to orbit a planet
  • Rocky or icy bodies orbiting planets, from spherical worlds to irregular lumps.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • explain types and formation
  • relay notable moons
  • describe named forms
  • relay exomoon status with attribution

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Stale moon counts
  • Treating quasi-satellites as true moons
  • Overstating exomoon confirmation

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • IAU nomenclature for moons

Context of use required Filled

  • Bodies orbiting planets and smaller objects.
  • regular moons
  • irregular moons
  • co-orbital and trojan moons
  • candidate exomoons

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q2537: natural satellite - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Natural satellite - general description of the item

Open questions

  • How should moon counts be kept current?
  • Should candidate exomoons be flagged as unconfirmed?
  • Should co-orbital moons be a separate entry?

Machine files

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q2537/spec.json