Difference between Sun and Moon
Sun and moon are the two prominent celestial objects in the sky or solar system. Although both are celestial objects, they are different from each other in terms of their shape, size and effects on the Earth and solar system. Let us see how they differ from each other!
Sun:
The sun is a yellow dwarf star located at the center of the solar system. It is a huge, spinning hot ball of glowing gases whose influence extends far beyond the orbits of Pluto and Neptune. All planets of the solar system including the Earth orbit or revolve around the Sun.
Sun has its own light and temperature. The temperature at its core is around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) and at its surface is around 10000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius). Its average diameter is around 864,000 miles which is around 109 times the diameter of the Earth.
Sun is 149, 600,000 kilometers far away from the Earth. The interaction between the sun and earth drive the weather, ocean currents, seasons, climate, etc. There would be no life on Earth without the heat, energy or light of the Sun.
The gravity of the Sun holds the solar system together and the electric currents in the Sun produce a magnetic field that spread throughout the solar system by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the sun in all directions.
Moon:
Moon, which is a celestial body, is the only natural satellite of the Earth. It orbits the Earth and completes one rotation around the Earth in 27.322 days. Its average distance from the Earth is around 238,855 miles (384,400 km). It has a diameter of 2,159 miles (3,475 kilometers) and is around 27% of the size of the Earth. Moon has a great effect on Earth, e.g. it causes tides in the oceans.
Moon has a very small core which is just 1 or 2 percent of the total moon?s mass. It also has a very thin atmosphere so even a footprint can sit undisturbed for centuries. Due to the thin atmosphere, the heat is not held near its surface that causes huge variation in daytime temperature, e.g. on the side that faces the sun the temperature reaches 273 degrees Fahrenheit (134 degree Celsius) and on the opposite or dark side, the temperature reaches 243 Fahrenheit (- 153 degrees Celsius).
Based on the above information, some of the key differences between Sun and Moon are as follows:
| Sun | Moon |
|---|---|
| It is a yellow dwarf star at the center of the solar system. | It is a celestial body that orbits the Earth. |
| It is much larger in size than the moon. Its diameter is around 400 times larger than the ‘ diameter. | It is much smaller in size than the Sun. |
| Sun has its own light. | It does not produce its own light. It shines as it reflects the light of the Sun. |
| Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. | The Moon orbits the Earth. It takes 27.322 days to rotate once around the Earth. |
| Its average distance from Earth is around 92,900,000 miles (149, 600,000 kilometers). | Its average distance from Earth is around 238,855 miles (384,400 km). |
| It is heated through nuclear fusion that takes place at its core. The temperature at the core is around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) and the temperature at the surface is around 10000 degrees Fahrenheit or 5,500 degrees Celsius. | It is heated by the Sun. The temperature of the light side is around 134 degrees Celsius. On the dark side, the temperate is – 153 degree Celsius. |