Moons of other planets all have names... just the one from earth is just called moon.
Anyone have suggestions how we should name it ?
Top | Newest First | Oldest First
View 3 more replies »
DrWatson · 70-79, M
Some refer to it as Luna, a Roman name for a goddess associated with the Moon.
The name Selene, another ancient Moon Goddess, might be a little more poetic. After all, many of the other moons in the solar system are named after figures from Greek or Roman mythology.
In fact, it used to be the case that scientists used terms like "selenology" and "selenography" when referring to the moon, instead of "geology" and "geography", since "geo" refers to Earth.
But after space exploration took off in earnest, it was getting a bit unwieldy to have a separate prefix for each body in the solar system! For a while, scientists spoke of "areology" on Mars (Ares) , for example. So "geo" became more inclusive in meaning.
The name Selene, another ancient Moon Goddess, might be a little more poetic. After all, many of the other moons in the solar system are named after figures from Greek or Roman mythology.
In fact, it used to be the case that scientists used terms like "selenology" and "selenography" when referring to the moon, instead of "geology" and "geography", since "geo" refers to Earth.
But after space exploration took off in earnest, it was getting a bit unwieldy to have a separate prefix for each body in the solar system! For a while, scientists spoke of "areology" on Mars (Ares) , for example. So "geo" became more inclusive in meaning.
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
PhoenixPhail · M
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@PhoenixPhail LOL! Not so.
It is not "dirt" but "earth" - the valuable top-soil that supports life.
Whatever the etymology of the planet's name, the German word for Earth, or ground, is [i]erde[/i], and the ancient Germanic deity [i]Erde[/i] was the Earth Goddess - giver of life and fertility (probably of crops rather than mere humans). Somewhat similar ideas seem to have existed in other ancient religions.
{Erde also appears in Wagner's [i]The Ring of the Niebelung[/i], as the mother of the illegitimate Valkyri sisters by Wotan; but his working of the story and characters in the opera was all his own, based only very loosely on a mixture of German, Scandinavian and Icelandic folk traditions.}
It is not "dirt" but "earth" - the valuable top-soil that supports life.
Whatever the etymology of the planet's name, the German word for Earth, or ground, is [i]erde[/i], and the ancient Germanic deity [i]Erde[/i] was the Earth Goddess - giver of life and fertility (probably of crops rather than mere humans). Somewhat similar ideas seem to have existed in other ancient religions.
{Erde also appears in Wagner's [i]The Ring of the Niebelung[/i], as the mother of the illegitimate Valkyri sisters by Wotan; but his working of the story and characters in the opera was all his own, based only very loosely on a mixture of German, Scandinavian and Icelandic folk traditions.}
PhoenixPhail · M
@ArishMell 👍
ArishMell · 70-79, M
It falls into place when you think historically. "We" have "always" known our own Moon, calling it that with a capital 'M'.
When astronomers started to discover some of the other planets in the Solar System have their own satellites, it became natural to refer to them as 'moons' - lower-case 'm'.
Ours is still the Moon by name; the others just moons by being similarly-orbiting bodies.
When astronomers started to discover some of the other planets in the Solar System have their own satellites, it became natural to refer to them as 'moons' - lower-case 'm'.
Ours is still the Moon by name; the others just moons by being similarly-orbiting bodies.
PhoenixPhail · M
Adstar · 56-60, M
Thats it's name... Moon..
Callingl other bodies revolving around planets moons, is basically a mistake,,, We do not call all stars Suns, we get that correct..
Callingl other bodies revolving around planets moons, is basically a mistake,,, We do not call all stars Suns, we get that correct..
froggtongue · M
@Adstar a sun is a star that as life supported by it. Our sun is a sun because we live in its solar system. And if we ever find life in other solar systems, we would be able to call those stars suns too.
Adstar · 56-60, M
@froggtongue I disagree..
UnderLockDown · M
It's The Moon because it belongs to us!!😎 I don't personally have any property there, but we have a flag and a vehicle parked there.🤣
UnderLockDown · M
@RedFlower "The Moon", meaning the moon over and above other moons. She's ours because she's part of our system, that makes her special and the name respectful. It's been Moon from the beginning, why would we change now? Even God called it the moon.
froggtongue · M
I think @UnderLockDown is having trouble being clear about the issue. The moon that orbits our planet has a name and it's called The Moon. Notice the capital. The lowercase form of 'moon' can be applied to any other natural satellite belonging to any other planet, but none may have the name The Moon.
JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M
ArishMell · 70-79, M
Why? Just keep it as "The Moon" - capital initials.
Other planets have their satellites named at least partly because they have more than one.
Other planets have their satellites named at least partly because they have more than one.
Gusman · 61-69, M
Ancient Greece called it Selene
Ancient Rome called it Luna
The Aztecs called it Mictecacuiatl
Ancient Rome called it Luna
The Aztecs called it Mictecacuiatl
That’s an interesting observation.
Never gave it much thought but you’re right, the ancients named everything but the moon 🌙
Curious
Never gave it much thought but you’re right, the ancients named everything but the moon 🌙
Curious
caPnAhab · 26-30, M
I was sure the earth's moon's name is Luna.
And the sun is Sol
And the sun is Sol
gdon39 · 41-45, M
I want to be a part of this. Are we renaming our moon?
RedBaron · M
Moon works. Why should that be changed?
TheWildEcho · 56-60, M
Ask the man in the moon!
He lives there!
He lives there!
fun4us2b · M
Luna or Selene?
MoonMoon · F
i think moon is just fine...
pdockal · 56-60, M
Leave it alone
Fishy · F
MoonMoon 🐺
Bumflash
vetguy1991 · 51-55, M
Luna
Rambler · M
Bob
calicuz · 51-55, M
Zana
Luna
Moon
FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M
SW-User
Schabziger
pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M
Youd have to ask the aliens who put it there
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment