By 
February 24th, 2016
Is Earth’s “moon” in need of a name?
Credit: NASA
Tired of hearing about all those “other moons” – like Europa,Titan, Ganymede, Phobos and Deimos?
A “Name the Moon” campaign is underway, dedicated to respectfully petition the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to give Earth’s Moon a unique name.
To do so the campaign has launched an animated series that teaches people about our solar system; and entertaining, educating and engaging the public.
The group’s e-petition drive and naming contest is set to end on Summer Solstice 2016. The Name the Moon e-petition will then be sent to the IAU.
Up to you
Those that sign on the dotted line, the petition reads:
“We, the undersigned people of planet Earth believe that our satellite, the Moon, should be given its own unique name. At this point in history the Moon is the only major celestial object whose name is also its category. We believe it is time for that to change and the Moon be given a new name.”
The hope is to find broad public consensus. “But we need lots of support! If you agree, please sign the e-petition. It’s up to you,” their campaign site explains.
For more information, go to:
https://namethemoon.world/#/Facts-0
Posted in Space News
The Moon. The Sun. If the IAU were to pick a name for each, would those names be accepted globally? Every culture on the planet had a name for each, signifying the very bright object that lighted the day or the fainter object – albeit of similar size – that circles the earth once a month.
Other non-stellar objects known in pre-scientific times are the planets: Mercury out to Saturn. What are they each called in other languages. When, for example, did Venus acquire that name? Is it known as something like “the morning star” in other languages?
I can imagine either angry rejection or scornful laughter from a lot of sectors at any suggestion to change the names of the Sun and the Moon.
What’s the point?
All of the planets are called in different languages by their one name from Mercury out to Saturn, because they were discovered in scientific time and given names. Even Earth, our planet is called Earth. There may be endearing names for it in other languages, but it is officially recognized as Earth.
Now that we are discovering so many moons and they are getting names, our moon still has hundreds of different names across all languages. It just seems odd. Mt Fuji is called Mt Fuji wherever you go. The Mississippi River is called the same in Russian as in English. The Pacific Ocean… I think that’s the point… There is one moon, it should have one name.
It will still be our moon. And it’s classification will remain the same in different languages, luna, lune, marama, mond, etc. but it will have one name — like about anything else I can think about.