<p><a href="https://differencecamp.com/rotation-vs-revolution/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Definitions</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Rotation can be defined as the circular motion of an object around its own axis, or upon itself.</p>
<p>Revolution can be defined as the circular movement of an object around an external axis, or around another body.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So a satellite moving around a planet once is called a revolution. Or an orbit. &quot;The satellite stayed active for 3 orbits, and then the batteries ran out&quot;.</p>
<p>To disambiguate the case 'the satellite having gone once around the Sun': this depends. Is the satellite in orbit around a planet, or does it orbit the Sun directly?</p>
<p>If the satellite is in orbit around a planet, you have to describe what you mean. There's no separate word for this case, AFAIK.
If it's in orbit around the Sun, it's again one orbit or one revolution.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T11:39:02.433Z
2019-11-22T11:39:02.433Z
2020-06-17T09:47:40.653Z
Hobbes
<p>When a planet or a satellite turns around itself, its called a rotation. When a planet goes once around the Sun, it's called a revolution. What do you call it when a satellite goes once around its planet? Is it also a revolution? But then how do you disambiguate with the satellite having gone once around the Sun?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-23T12:22:02.820Z
With one particular satellite, I call it a month. ;)
PM 2Ring
<natural-satellites><terminology>
What do you call it when a satellite goes once around its planet?
usernumber
# What do you call it when a satellite goes once around its planet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-22)

When a planet or a satellite turns around itself, its called a rotation. When a planet goes once around the Sun, it's called a revolution. What do you call it when a satellite goes once around its planet? Is it also a revolution? But then how do you disambiguate with the satellite having gone once around the Sun?

**Tags:** natural-satellites, terminology
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: With one particular satellite, I call it a month. ;)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-11-22. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

[Definitions](https://differencecamp.com/rotation-vs-revolution/):

> Rotation can be defined as the circular motion of an object around its own axis, or upon itself.
>
> Revolution can be defined as the circular movement of an object around an external axis, or around another body.

So a satellite moving around a planet once is called a revolution. Or an orbit. "The satellite stayed active for 3 orbits, and then the batteries ran out".

To disambiguate the case 'the satellite having gone once around the Sun': this depends. Is the satellite in orbit around a planet, or does it orbit the Sun directly?

If the satellite is in orbit around a planet, you have to describe what you mean. There's no separate word for this case, AFAIK.
If it's in orbit around the Sun, it's again one orbit or one revolution.


---

