Planetary nomenclature
The nomenclature of the planetary system or planetary nomenclature , as part of the astronomical nomenclature, is the system for the scientific, unambiguous designation of surface structures of planets , moons and the smaller celestial bodies in the solar system . The assignment of such names has been in the hands of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) since it was founded in 1919 .
Name assignment procedure
As soon as the first images of a celestial body are available, a topic is chosen (usually by the relevant IAU working group) and names are given for some conspicuous surface structures. Anyone can then make suggestions for further names, which will then be discussed by the working group. If the proposed name is considered to be appropriate to the topic, it is put on hold for the time being. As soon as higher-resolution images and more accurate maps become available and a name is requested for a surface structure examined by the scientists involved, a name that is as suitable as possible is selected from the suggested names. This proposal will be forwarded to the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), the IAU's working group responsible for planetary nomenclature. There it is discussed again. If the proposal meets with approval in the WGPSN, he is considered "provisionally accepted" ( provisionally approved ) and can be used under appropriate note in maps and publications. Finally, these tentative names will be confirmed by the IAU's triennial general assembly . After that, the name is "officially adopted" ( ADOPTED ).
IAU rules and conventions
The names accepted by the IAU have a number of rules and conventions that have evolved over time:
- The system of nomenclature should first and foremost be simple, clear and unambiguous.
- Structures with an extension of less than 100 m are only given a name if they are of exceptional scientific interest.
- Names should not be assigned beyond scientific requirements in order to keep their number as small as possible.
- Multiple uses of a name should be avoided.
- The name form used is that of the original language. A legend is given, but it is not the official name.
- As far as possible, historically established conventions should be taken into account.
- The naming should be internationally balanced. In the vicinity of the landing point of a spacecraft, however, a preponderance of names from the relevant country or culture is acceptable.
- Names that are still of political, military or religious importance today are not accepted.
- Naming after persons is an honor of internationally recognized personalities of lasting importance. They must have died for at least three years. If there are different spellings of a person's name, the person's preferred one is chosen.
Designations for surface structures
The names of all planetary structures generally consist of a structure name (e.g. Sinus ) and the actual name (e.g. Iridum , also Sinus Iridum "Bay of the Rainbow"), except for craters where the structure name is implicit and in some short-lived structures, for example on the moons Io and Triton .
| Designation, plural | meaning | description | code |
|---|---|---|---|
| albedo feature | an area determined by differences in surface brightness ( albedo ). | AL | |
| Arcus, Arcus | arc | arched or curved structures (currently only Hotei Arcus on titanium ) | AR |
| Astrum , Astra | star | radially symmetrical structures on Venus | AS |
| Catena , catenae | Chain | a chain of craters | CA |
| Cavus , Cavi | Cavity, hole | deep, irregularly shaped depression or group of depressions | CB |
| chaos | formless primal mass | Area with irregular, rugged terrain | CH |
| Chasma , Chasmata | Fissure, chasm | deep, elongated crevice or chasm | CM |
| Colles (Mz.) | hill | Group of small hills or elevations. | CO |
| Corona , Coronae | Wreath, crown | oval or ring-shaped structure that is not an impact crater | CR |
| Crater , crateres | Mixing vessel, water basin, volcanic crater | almost circular structure that is believed to be an impact crater | AA |
| Dorsum , dorsa | Back (of a horse or donkey) | Terrain ridge | DO |
| eruptive center | active volcano on Io (moon) | HE | |
| Facula, faculae | Kienspan, little torch | bright spot | FA |
| Farrum, Farra | Flat bread | flat, pancake-like structure or group of such structures | FR |
| Flexus, flexus | Bend, curvature | flat, curved structure | FE |
| Fluctus, Fluctus | Surge, flood | area flooded with volcanic effluent rock | FL |
| Flumen, Flumina | flow | Elongated, channel-like structures on titanium that may transport liquids | FM |
| Fossa , fossae | dig | long, narrow and shallow depression | FO |
| Insula, insulae | island | isolated area within a region covered with fluid (the only structure of this type is currently Mayda Insula on titanium ) | IN |
| Labes, Labes | landslide | Debris from a landslide, debris cone (only on Mars) | LA |
| Labyrinthus, Labyrinthi | labyrinth | Area with overlapping and intersecting valleys and ridges | LB |
| Lacus | lake | small plain on the Moon and Mars, liquid-covered region on Titan | LC |
| landing feature | Surroundings of the landing sites of the Apollo program on the moon | LF | |
| large ringed feature | ring-shaped, recessed structures | LG | |
| Lenticula, Lenticulae | lens | small dark spots on Europe | LE |
| Linea , Lineae | line | dark or light, long, thin structure | LI |
| Macula, macules | spot | dark, possibly irregular spot | MA |
| Mare, Maria | sea | large, more round plane or surface | ME |
| Cafeteria, cafeteria | table | Plateau with steeply sloping edges | MN |
| Mons, Montes | mountain | Mountain or in the majority mountain range or mountain range | MO |
| Oceanus | Ocean | very large, dark areas (only on the moon) | OC |
| Palus, paludes | swamp | small plain on the moon and mars | PA |
| Patera, paterae | shallow bowl | irregular crater | PE |
| Planitia, Planitiae | Surface, plane | low lying plain | PL |
| Planum, Plana | Surface, plane | Plateau or plateau | PM |
| Promontory, Promontoria | Promontory | Mountain ledge in a plain on the moon | PR |
| Regio, Regiones | area | large area set off by color or brightness, or generally an extensive area | RE |
| Reticulum, reticula | network | reticulated structures on Venus | RT |
| Rima, Rimae | Crack, crack | deeply cut canyon or crevice on the moon | RI |
| Rupes , Rupēs | cliff | Steep slope or steep step | RU |
| satellite feature | Structure named after a neighboring structure, with a capital letter appended to the name (see e.g. Mösting A ) | SF | |
| Scopulus, Scopuli | cliff | Ledge, foothills with a steep step | SC |
| Sine | bay | small plain bounded by an arched elevation | SI |
| Sulcus, sulci | Furrow, groove | parallel furrow and channel structures | SU |
| Terra, terrae | Earth, land | extensive area | TA |
| Tessera, Tesserae | Tablets, platelets | polygonally structured terrain on Venus | TE |
| Tholus , tholi | Dome roof of a temple | small, dome-like elevations | TH |
| Undae | Waves | Dune field | U.N. |
| Vallis, Valles | valley | shallow depression | VA |
| Vastitas, vastitates | desert | extensive plain (currently only Vastitas Borealis on Mars) | VS |
| Virga, Virgae | colored stripe | Color-contrasting, elongated structure | VI |
literature
- Ronald Greeley, Raymond M. Batson (eds.): Planetary Mapping (= Cambridge Planetary Science Series. Vol. 6). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge u. a. 1990, ISBN 0-521-03373-X .
- Ewen A. Whitaker: Mapping and naming the moon. A History of Lunar Cartography and Nomenclature. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge u. a. 1999, ISBN 0-521-62248-4 .
Web links
- Descriptor Terms (Feature Types) in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature of the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)
- Members of the WGPSN
Individual evidence
- ^ History of Planetary Nomenclature
- ↑ Latin root
- ↑ The identifier used in the IAU database for a type of structure, see Descriptor Terms .