Is the Moon a Planet? Simple Answer for a 5-year-old

A short, friendly explanation for a 5-year-old that the Moon is not a planet but Earth's natural satellite. Explains what planets and moons are, why the Moon shines, and gives easy examples.

Is the Moon a planet?

Short answer: No. The Moon is not a planet. It is a moon (a natural satellite) that goes around Earth.

  1. What is a planet? A planet is a big world that goes around the Sun. Examples: Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.
  2. What is a moon? A moon is a world that goes around a planet. Our Moon goes around Earth. Some other planets have many moons.
  3. How do we tell them apart? Planets go around the Sun. Moons go around planets. The Moon does not make its own light — it shines because it reflects the Sun's light.
  4. Extra fact: Some moons are very big, even bigger than small planets, but they are still moons because they go around a planet.

So remember: the Moon is our special friend that circles Earth. It is a moon, not a planet.

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