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Planetary nomenclaturePlanetary nomenclature, like terrestrial nomenclature, is used to uniquely identify a feature on the surface of a planet or natural satellite so that the feature can be easily located, described, and discussed.
How names are approved
When images are first obtained of the surface of a planet or satellite, a theme for naming features is chosen and a few important features are named, usually by members of the appropriate IAU task group. Later, as higher resolution images and maps become available, additional features are named at the request of investigators mapping or describing specific surfaces, features, or geologic formations. Anyone may suggest that a specific name be considered by a task group. If the members of the task group agree that the name is appropriate, it can be retained for use when there is a request from a member of the scientific community that a specific feature be named. Names successfully reviewed by a task group are submitted to the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). Upon successful review by the members of the WGPSN, names are considered provisionally approved and can be used on maps and in publications as long as the provisional status is clearly stated. Provisional names are then presented for adoption to the IAU's General Assembly, which meets triennially. A name is not considered to be official--that is, "adopted"--until the General Assembly has given its approval.
IAU Rules and Conventions
Names adopted by the IAU must follow various rules and conventions established and amended through the years by the Union. These include:
- Nomenclature is a tool and the first consideration should be to make it simple, clear, and unambiguous.\n#The number of names chosen for each body should be kept to a minimum, and their placement governed by the requirements of the scientific community.\n#Duplication of the same name on two or more bodies is to be avoided.\n#Individual names chosen for each body should be expressed in the language of origin. Transliteration for various alphabets should be given, but there will be no translation from one language to another.\n#Where possible, the themes established in early solar system nomenclature should be used and expanded on.\n#Solar system nomenclature should be international in its choice of names. Recommendations submitted to the IAU national committees will be considered, but final selection of the names is the responsibility of the International Astronomical Union. The WGPSN strongly supports equitable selection of names from ethnic groups/countries on each map; however, a higher percentage of names from the country planning a landing is allowed on landing site maps.\n#No names having political, military or religious significance may be used, except for names of political figures prior to the 19th century.\n#Commemoration of persons on planetary bodies should not be a goal in itself but should be reserved for persons of high and enduring international standing. Persons being so honored must have been deceased for at least three years.\n#When more than one spelling of a name is extant, the spelling preferred by the person, or used in an authoritative reference, should be used. Diacritical marks are a necessary part of a name and will be used.\n#Ring and ring-gap nomenclature and names for newly discovered satellites are developed in joint deliberation between WGPSN and IAU Commission 20. Names will not be assigned to satellites until their orbital elements are reasonably well known or definite features have been identified on them.
In addition to these general rules, each task group develops additional conventions as it formulates an interesting and meaningful nomenclature for individual planetary bodies.
Naming Conventions
Names for all planetary features include a descriptor term, with the exception of two feature types. For craters, the descriptor term is implicit. Some features named on Io and Triton do not carry a descriptor term because they are ephemeral.
In general, the naming convention for a feature type remains the same regardless of its size. Exceptions to this rule are channels (valles) on Mars and craters on the Moon, Mars, and Venus; naming conventions for these features differ according to size. The categories for naming features on each planet or satellite (and the exceptions) are listed in Appendix 6. One feature classification, regio, was originally used on early maps of the Moon and Mercury (drawn from telescopic observations) to describe vague albedo features. It is now used to delineate a broad geographic region.
Named features on bodies so small that coordinates have not yet been determined are identified on drawings of the body that are included in the IAU Transactions volume of the year when the names were adopted. Satellite rings and gaps in the rings are named for scientists who have studied these features; drawings that show these names are also included in the pertinent Transactions volume. Names for atmospheric features are informal at present; a formal system will be chosen in the future.
The boundaries of many large features (such as terrae, regiones, planitiae, and plana) are not topographically or geomorphically distinct; the coordinates of these features are identified from an arbitrarily chosen center point. Boundaries (and thus coordinates) may be determined more accurately from geochemical and geophysical data obtained by future missions.
Descriptor Terms (Feature Types)\n \n\n| Feature | \nDescription | \nDesignation | \n \n| Albedo Feature | \n | \nAL | \n \n| Astrum, astra | \nRadial-patterned features on Venus | \nAS | \n \n| Catena, catenae | \nChain of craters | \nCA | \n \n| Cavus, cavi | \nHollows, irregular steep-sided depressions usually in arrays or\nclusters | \nCB | \n \n| Chaos | \nDistinctive area of broken terrain | \nCH | \n \n| Chasma, chasmata | \nA deep, elongated, steep-sided depression | \nCM | \n \n| Colles | \nSmall hills or knobs | \nCO | \n \n| Corona, coronae | \nOvoid-shaped feature | \nCR | \n \n| Crater, craters | \nA circular depression | \nAA | \n \n| Dorsum, dorsa | \nRidge | \nDO | \n \n| Eruptive center | \nActive volcanic centers on Io | \nER | \n \n| Facula, faculae | \nBright spot | \nFA | \n \n| Farrum, farra | \nPancake-like structure, or a row of such structures | \nFR | \n \n| Flexus, flex-us | \nA very low curvilinear ridge with a scalloped pattern | \nFE | \n \n| Fluctus, fluct-us | \nFlow terrain | \nFL | \n \n| Fossa, fossae | \nLong, narrow, shallow depression | \nFO | \n \n| Labes, lab-es | \nLandslide | \nLA | \n \n| Labyrinthus, labyrinthi | \nComplex of intersecting valleys | \nLB | \n \n| Lacus(1) | \n"Lake"; small plain | \nLC | \n \n| Landing site name | \nLunar features at or near Apollo landing sites | \nLF | \n \n| Large ringed feature | \nCryptic ringed features | \nLG | \n \n| Lenticula, lenticulae | \nSmall dark spots on Europa | \nLE | \n \n| Linea, lineae | \nA dark or bright elongate marking, may be curved or\nstraight | \nLI | \n \n| Macula, maculae | \nDark spot, may be irregular | \nMA | \n \n| Mare(1), maria | \n"Sea"; large circular plain | \nME | \n \n| Mensa, mensae | \nA flat-topped prominence with cliff-like edges | \nMN | \n \n| Mons, montes | \nMountain | \nMO | \n \n| Oceanus(1) | \nA very large dark area on the moon | \nOC | \n \n| Palus(1), paludes | \n"Swamp"; small plain | \nPA | \n \n| Patera, paterae | \nAn irregular crater, or a complex one with scalloped edges | \nPE | \n \n| Planitia, planitiae | \nLow plain | \nPL | \n \n| Planum, plana | \nPlateau or high plain | \nPM | \n \n| Plume | \n | \nPU | \n \n| Promontorium(1), promontoria | \n"Cape"; headland | \nPR | \n \n| Regio, regiones | \nA large area marked by reflectivity or color distinctions from\nadjacent areas, or a broad geographic region | \nRE | \n \n| Reticulum, reticula | \nreticular (netlike) pattern on Venus | \nRT | \n \n| Rima, rimae(1) | \nFissure | \nRI | \n \n| Rupes, rup-es | \nScarp | \nRU | \n \n| Scopulus, scopuli | \nLobate or irregular scarp | \nSC | \n \n| Sinus | \n"Bay"; small plain | \nSI | \n \n| Sulcus, sulci | \nSubparallel furrows and ridges | \nSU | \n \n| Terra, terrae | \nExtensive land mass | \nTA | \n \n| Tessera, tesserae | \nTile-like, polygonal terrain | \nTE | \n \n| Tholus, tholi | \nSmall domical mountain or hill | \nTH | \n \n| Undae | \nDunes | \nUN | \n \n| Vallis, valles | \nValley | \nVA | \n \n| Vastitas, vastitates | \nExtensive plain | \nVS | \n \n
(1) Used only on the Moon
\n Categories for naming features on planets and satellites
Mercury
\n\n| Craters | \nFamous deceased artists, musicians, painters,\nauthors | \n \n| Montes | \nCaloris, from Latin word for "hot" | \n \n| Planitiae | \nNames for Mercury (either planet or god) in various\nlanguages | \n \n| Rup-es | \nShips of discovery or scientific expeditions | \n \n| Valles | \nRadio telescope facilities | \n \n
Venus
\n\n| Astra | \nGoddesses, miscellaneous | \n \n| Chasmata | \nGoddesses of hunt; moon goddesses | \n \n| Colles | \nSea goddesses | \n \n| Coronae | \nFertility and earth goddesses | \n \n| Craters | \nOver 20 km; famous women; under 20 km, common female first\nnames | \n \n| Dorsa | \nSky goddesses | \n \n| Farrum | \nWater goddesses | \n \n| Fluct-us | \nGoddesses, miscellaneous | \n \n| Fossae | \nGoddesses of war | \n \n| Labyrinthus | \nGoddesses, miscellaneous | \n \n| Lineae | \nGoddesses of war | \n \n| Montes | \nGoddesses, miscellaneous (also one radar scientist) | \n \n| Paterae | \nFamous women | \n \n| Planitiae | \nMythological heroines | \n \n| Planum | \nGoddesses of prosperity | \n \n| Regiones | \nGiantesses and Titanesses (also two Greek alphanumeric) | \n \n| Rup-es | \nGoddesses of hearth and home | \n \n| Tesserae | \nGoddesses of fate and fortune | \n \n| Terrae | \nGoddesses of love | \n \n| Tholi | \nGoddesses, miscellaneous | \n \n| Undae | \nDesert goddesses | \n \n| Valles | \nWord for planet Venus in various world languages (400 km and\nlonger); river goddesses (less than 400 km in length) | \n \n
The Moon
\n\n| Craters, Catenae, Dorsa, Rimae | \nLarge craters: famous deceased scientists,\nscholars, artists; small craters: common first names. Other\nfeatures named from nearby craters | \n \n| Lac-us, Maria, Paludes, Sin-us | \nLatin terms describing weather and other abstract concepts | \n \n| Montes | \nTerrestrial mountain ranges or nearby craters | \n \n| Rup-es | \nNames of nearby mountain ranges (terrestrial names) | \n \n| Valles | \nName of nearby features | \n \n
Mars and martian satellites
Mars
\n\n| Large craters | \nDeceased scientists who have contributed to the\nstudy of Mars; writers and others who have contributed to the lore\nof Mars | \n \n| Small craters | \nVillages of the world with a population of less than\n100,000. | \n \n| Large valles | \nName for Mars/star in various languages | \n \n| Small valles | \nClassical or modern names of rivers | \n \n| Other features | \nFrom nearest named albedo feature on Schiaparelli or Antoniadi maps | \n \n
Deimos
Authors who wrote about Martian satellites
Phobos
Scientists involved with the discovery, dynamics, or properties of the Martian satellites
Satellites of Jupiter
Amalthea
People and places associated with the Amalthea myth
Thebe
People and places associated with the Thebe myth
Io
\n\n| Active eruptive centers | \nFire, sun, thunder gods and heroes | \n \n| Catenae | \nSun gods | \n \n| Fluct-us | \nName derived from nearby named feature, or fire, sun, thunder,\nvolcano gods, goddesses and heroes, mythical blacksmiths | \n \n| Mensae | \nPeople associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or\nfrom Dante's Inferno | \n \n| Montes | \nPlaces associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or\nfrom Dante's Inferno | \n \n| Paterae | \nFire, sun, thunder, volcano gods, heroes, goddesses, mythical\nblacksmiths | \n \n| Plana | \nPlaces associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or\nfrom Dante's Inferno | \n \n| Regiones | \nPlaces associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or\nfrom Dante's Inferno | \n \n| Tholi | \nPlaces associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or\nfrom Dante's Inferno | \n \n
Europa
\n\n| Chaos | \nPlaces associated with Celtic myths | \n \n| Craters | \nCeltic gods and heroes | \n \n| Flex-us | \nPlaces associated with the Europa myth | \n \n| Large ringed features | \nCeltic stone circles | \n \n| Lenticulae | \nCeltic gods and heroes | \n \n| Lineae | \nPeople associated with the Europa myth | \n \n| Maculae | \nPlaces associated with the Europa myth | \n \n| Regiones | \nPlaces associated with Celtic myths | \n \n
Ganymede
\n\n| Catenae | \nGods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent\npeople | \n \n| Craters | \nGods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent people | \n \n| Faculae | \nPlaces associated with Egyptian myths | \n \n| Fossae | \nGods (or principals) of ancient Fertile Crescent people | \n \n| Regiones | \nAstronomers who discovered Jovian satellites | \n \n| Sulci | \nPlaces associated with myths of ancient people | \n \n
Callisto
\n\n| Large ringed features | \nHomes of the gods and of heroes | \n \n| Craters | \nHeroes and heroines from northern myths | \n \n| Catenae | \nMythological places in high latitudes | \n \n
Satellites of Saturn
Janus
People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)
Epimetheus
People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)
Mimas
People and places from Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur legends (Baines translation)
Enceladus
People and places from Burton's Arabian Nights
Tethys
People and places from Homer's Odyssey
Dione
People and places from Virgil's Aeneid
Rhea
People and places from creation myths
Titan
Ancient displaced cultures
Hyperion
Sun and Moon deities
Iapetus
People and places from Sayers' translation of Chanson de Roland
Phoebe
People associated with Phoebe, islands of the Greek archipelagos
Satellites of Uranus
Puck
Mischievous (Pucklike) spirits (class)
Miranda
Characters, places from Shakespeare's plays
Ariel
Light spirits (individual and class)
Umbriel
Dark spirits (individual)
Titania
Female Shakespearean characters, places
Oberon
Shakespearean tragic heroes and places
Small satellites
Heroines from Shakespeare and Pope
Satellites of Neptune
Proteus
Water-related spirits, gods, goddesses (excluding Greek and Roman names)
Triton
Aquatic names, excluding Roman and Greek. Possible categories include worldwide aquatic spirits, famous terrestrial fountains or fountain locations, terrestrial aquatic features, famous terrestrial geysers or geyser locations, terrestrial islands.
Nereid
Individual nereids
Small satellites
Gods and goddesses associated with Neptune/Poseidon mythology or generic mythological aquatic beings
Pluto
Underworld deities
Asteroids
243 Ida
\n\n| Craters | \nCaverns and grottos of the world | \n \n| Dorsa | \nGalileo project participants | \n \n| Regiones | \nDiscoverer of Ida and places associated with the\ndiscoverer | \n \n
Dactyl
\n| Craters | Idaean dactyls | \n
951 Gaspra
\n\n| Craters | \nSpas of the world | \n \n| Regiones | \nDiscoverer of Gaspra, and Galileo project participants | \n \n
253 Mathilde
\n| Craters | Coal fields and basins of the world | \n
433 Eros
\n\n| Craters | \nMythological and legendary names of an erotic\nnature | \n \n| Regiones | \nDiscoverers of Eros | \n \n| Dorsa | \nScientists who have contributed to the exploration and study of\nEros | \n \n
Contents adapted from the public domain work United States Geological Survey Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
See also\n* Geological features of the Solar System
Category:Solar system |
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