natural satellite
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.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
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.
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.
What it is for: Bodies orbiting planets and smaller objects.
It can be explain types and formation; relay notable moons; describe named forms; relay exomoon status with attribution.
Distinguishing features
Orbits a planet or body
Regular or irregular orbits
Varied sizes
Exomoons unconfirmed
What it looks like
Rocky or icy bodies orbiting planets, from spherical worlds to irregular lumps.
Physical character
largest moon: Ganymede note - larger than Mercury
known Solar System moons: hundreds count - check current
confirmed exomoons: none firmly confirmed note - check current
How it is recognised
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
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
orbits -
is contrasted with -
is contrasted with -
In practice
Families and kinds
regular moons
irregular moons
co-orbital and trojan moons
candidate exomoons
Standards and regulation
IAU nomenclature for moons
Failure modes and hazards
Stale moon counts
Treating quasi-satellites as true moons
Overstating exomoon confirmation
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a natural satellite is.
Science.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a natural satellite, and how does it differ from planets, dwarf planets, artificial satellites, ring particles and quasi-satellites? definition
- Is the question about a current moon count, which should be checked against current sources? boundary
Forms
Named forms.
Forms
Forms.
- What are regular, co-orbital and extrasolar moons, and what are claimed moons of Earth? definition
- Which entry fits the specific form? action
Formation Formation.
Science.
Origins
Origins of moons.
Origins
Origins.
- How do moons form by accretion, capture or giant impact? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Orbits
Orbit types.
Orbits
Orbits.
- How do regular and irregular moon orbits differ? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Moons Notable moons.
Sources.
Large moons
Large moons.
Large moons
Large moons.
- What are notable large moons such as Ganymede, Titan and the Moon? provenance
- Which entry fits Titan? action
Small moons
Moonlets.
Small moons
Small moons.
- What are irregular moons and moonlets? provenance
- Is the information accurate? boundary
Context Exomoons.
Attribution.
Exomoons
Extrasolar moons.
Exomoons
Exomoons.
- What is the status of exomoon detection, checked against current sources? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
Quasi-satellites
Quasi-satellites.
Quasi-satellites
Quasi-satellites.
- Why are Earth s quasi-satellites not true moons? provenance
- Which entry fits quasi-satellite? action
What the second pass must settle
- How should moon counts be kept current?
- Should candidate exomoons be flagged as unconfirmed?
- Should co-orbital moons be a separate entry?