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3D Solar System Learning Guide

Moons of the Solar System | 30 Major Moons in 3D

Explore 30 major moons of the Solar System in 3D. Learn their names, parent planets, orbits, sizes, surface features, observation images, and detailed facts.

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How to use this 3D guide

  1. Match bodies with their namesToggle the name labels in the upper left to connect each visible body with its name.
  2. Change the view and perspectiveDrag and zoom through space, then switch among Game, Comparison, and True Scale views.
  3. Study images and factsSelect a study target to view its observation image, identifying features, and available physical and orbital facts. In moon learning, the Sun and planets provide navigation and positional context; only moons open details.

Celestial bodies in this 3D guide (30)

Review each body’s name, observation image, position, and key identifying features. Select a body in the 3D view above for its full details.

Moons of Earth

  • Observation image of Moon

    Moon

    Orbits: Earth · Mean diameter: 3,475 km

    Earth's only moon, marked by dark maria and bright highlands.

Moons of Mars

  • Observation image of Phobos

    Phobos

    Orbits: Mars · Mean diameter: 22.2 km

    The larger irregular Martian moon, racing very close to Mars.

  • Observation image of Deimos

    Deimos

    Orbits: Mars · Mean diameter: 12.4 km

    The smaller Martian moon, orbiting farther out than Phobos.

Moons of Jupiter

  • Observation image of Io

    Io

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 3,643 km

    The innermost Galilean moon, with a yellow-orange volcanic surface.

  • Observation image of Europa

    Europa

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 3,122 km

    A bright icy moon crossed by dark linear fractures.

  • Observation image of Ganymede

    Ganymede

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 5,262 km

    The Solar System's largest moon, with mixed bright and dark terrain.

  • Observation image of Callisto

    Callisto

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 4,821 km

    The outermost Galilean moon, densely covered with impact craters.

  • Observation image of Amalthea

    Amalthea

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 167 km

    A reddish irregular moon orbiting close to Jupiter.

  • Observation image of Himalia

    Himalia

    Orbits: Jupiter · Mean diameter: 170 km

    An irregular moon on a distant, inclined orbit beyond the Galilean moons.

Moons of Saturn

  • Observation image of Mimas

    Mimas

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 396 km

    A small moon dominated by the enormous Herschel crater.

  • Observation image of Enceladus

    Enceladus

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 504 km

    An exceptionally bright icy moon with active south-polar plumes.

  • Observation image of Tethys

    Tethys

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 1,062 km

    A bright icy moon with a huge crater and an immense canyon.

  • Observation image of Dione

    Dione

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 1,123 km

    An icy moon recognizable by bright cliffs and cratered terrain.

  • Observation image of Rhea

    Rhea

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 1,527 km

    Saturn's second-largest moon, pale and heavily cratered.

  • Observation image of Titan

    Titan

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 5,150 km

    Saturn's largest moon, wrapped in a thick orange atmosphere.

  • Observation image of Hyperion

    Hyperion

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 270 km

    An irregular moon with a distinctive sponge-like, deeply pitted surface.

  • Observation image of Iapetus

    Iapetus

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 1,469 km

    A two-toned moon with one hemisphere dramatically darker than the other.

  • Observation image of Phoebe

    Phoebe

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 213 km

    A dark irregular moon on a distant retrograde orbit around Saturn.

  • Observation image of Janus

    Janus

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 178 km

    A co-orbital moon that periodically swaps orbits with Epimetheus.

  • Observation image of Epimetheus

    Epimetheus

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 116 km

    A small co-orbital moon that swaps paths with Janus.

  • Observation image of Prometheus

    Prometheus

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 86.2 km

    An elongated shepherd moon orbiting along the inner edge of the F ring.

  • Observation image of Pandora

    Pandora

    Orbits: Saturn · Mean diameter: 81.2 km

    An irregular moon orbiting near the outer edge of Saturn's F ring.

Moons of Uranus

  • Observation image of Miranda

    Miranda

    Orbits: Uranus · Mean diameter: 472 km

    An inner major Uranian moon with patchwork terrain and enormous cliffs.

  • Observation image of Ariel

    Ariel

    Orbits: Uranus · Mean diameter: 1,158 km

    One of Uranus's brightest moons, marked by many valleys.

  • Observation image of Umbriel

    Umbriel

    Orbits: Uranus · Mean diameter: 1,169 km

    The darkest of Uranus's major moons.

  • Observation image of Titania

    Titania

    Orbits: Uranus · Mean diameter: 1,578 km

    Uranus's largest moon, crossed by faults and valleys.

  • Observation image of Oberon

    Oberon

    Orbits: Uranus · Mean diameter: 1,523 km

    The outermost major Uranian moon, with a heavily cratered surface.

Moons of Neptune

  • Observation image of Triton

    Triton

    Orbits: Neptune · Mean diameter: 2,705 km

    Neptune's largest moon, traveling on a retrograde orbit.

  • Observation image of Nereid

    Nereid

    Orbits: Neptune · Mean diameter: 340 km

    A distant Neptunian moon on a highly eccentric orbit.

  • Observation image of Proteus

    Proteus

    Orbits: Neptune · Mean diameter: 416 km

    A dark, large irregular moon with a notably boxy shape.

Three display views

Switch views to study surface appearance, spatial relationships, and real scale as separate kinds of information.

Game View

The standard view adjusts body sizes and orbit spacing nonlinearly. Broad size and orbit order are retained where possible, but the ratios are not to scale.

Comparison View

Relevant bodies share the same apparent size and evenly spaced circular orbits, making surfaces easier to compare. This view does not teach size, distance, eccentricity, or orbit orientation.

True Scale View

Real size and distance ratios among the included bodies are preserved. Position markers are screen-space controls for selecting tiny bodies, not physical objects or body sizes. Select a marker to travel to that body.

Where the display differs from real scale

These notes explain the size, distance, speed, position, and surface adjustments made for readability and control. Game and Comparison Views are observation aids, not scale models or high-precision real-time ephemerides.

Passage of time

The simulation starts from an approximate position for the current date. In Solar System Mode, planets move at 1 real second per 30 days, so playback after the start is not a live view of the current Solar System. In Planetary System Mode, each planet uses a speed at which its innermost included moon completes an orbit in about 15 seconds. Other moons retain their real orbital-period ratios, so distant moons may appear almost still. True Scale View, Information, and body details pause celestial motion.

Rotation

Rotation direction follows public data. Displayed rotation speed is adjusted separately from orbital time and does not reproduce the real time ratio. Bodies without rotation-period data rotate at a fixed observation speed so their surfaces and shapes remain visible. In Planetary System Mode, the planet rotates once every 12 to 20 seconds.

Positions and orbits

Initial positions and elliptical orbit shapes, inclinations, and orientations are approximated from public orbital elements. Game View compresses planet distances nonlinearly. Planetary System Mode also compresses moon distances and separates close orbits while retaining their order and broad shapes. Some systems receive a shared starting-angle adjustment to avoid the interface. The dwarf-planet and small-body game compresses its wide orbital range logarithmically and caps the displayed eccentricity of extremely elongated orbits in Game View for readability and control. This is an educational visualization, not a high-precision real-time ephemeris.

Three display views

Game View adjusts body sizes and orbit spacing nonlinearly. Within each planetary system, the largest included moon uses about one-third of the parent planet as its base size; the others retain their real size order while the differences are compressed. Dwarf planets and small bodies also retain their real size order while differences are compressed; tiny bodies receive a minimum display size and additional enlargement on small screens. Comparison View gives relevant bodies equal apparent sizes and evenly spaced circular orbits. True Scale View preserves real size and distance ratios among included bodies. Position markers are selection controls, not physical sizes.

Surface appearance

Textures are processed from observation images and scientific visualizations for 3D display. When global coverage is unavailable, unobserved areas use a neutral fill or simplified representation and are not claimed as observed terrain. The five major Uranian moon maps are turned north-to-south so mapped terrain faces the default camera. Colors are not guaranteed to be natural color, and some light and dark areas come from 3D illumination.

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