Editing Planetary nomenclature (section)

== Categories for naming features on planets and satellites ==

=== [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] ===

[[Image:Mercury h06 Kuiper quadrangle.png|thumb|300px|right|Examples of Mercurian nomenclature from the [[Kuiper quadrangle]].]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Current list
! Naming convention
|-
| Catenae
| [[List of catenae on Mercury|list]]  [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Catena,%20catenae]
|[[Radio telescope]] facilities
|-
| Craters
| [[List of craters on Mercury|list]]  [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Crater,%20craters]
|Famous deceased artists, musicians, painters, authors
|-
| Dorsa
| [[List of dorsa on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Dorsum,%20dorsa]
| Astronomers who made detailed studies of the planet
|-
|Facula
|[[List of fossae on Mercury|list]] [https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Facula,%20faculae]
|The word 'snake' in various languages
|-
| Fossae
| [[List of fossae on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Fossa,%20fossae]
| Significant works of [[architecture]]
|-
| Montes
| [[List of mountains on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Mons,%20montes]
| Words for "hot" in various languages. Only one mountain range is currently named: [[Caloris Montes]], from Latin word for "heat"
|-
| Planitiae
| [[List of planitiae on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Planitia,%20planitiae]
| Names for Mercury (either planet or god) in various languages. Two exceptions exist.
|-
| Rupēs
| [[List of rupes on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Rupes,%20rup%C4%93s]
| Ships of discovery or scientific expeditions
|-
| Valles
| [[List of valles on Mercury|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MERCURY&featureType=Vallis,%20valles]
|Abandoned cities, towns or settlements of antiquity
|}

=== [[Venus]] ===

All but three features on Venus are named after female personages (goddesses and historical or mythological women). These three exceptions were named before the convention was adopted, being respectively Alpha Regio, Beta Regio, and [[Maxwell Montes]] which is named after [[James Clerk Maxwell]].

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Current list
! Naming convention
|-
| Astra
| none [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Astrum,%20astra]
| Goddesses, miscellaneous
|-
| Chasmata
| [[List of chasmata on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Chasma,%20chasmata]
| Goddesses of hunt; moon goddesses
|-
| Colles
| [[List of colles on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Collis,%20colles]
| Sea goddesses
|-
| Coronae
| [[List of coronae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Corona,%20coronae]
| Fertility and earth goddesses
|-
| Craters
| [[List of craters on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Crater,%20craters]
| Over 20&nbsp;km, famous women; under 20&nbsp;km, common female first names
|-
| Dorsa
| [[List of dorsa on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Dorsum,%20dorsa]
| Sky goddesses
|-
| Farra
| [[List of farra on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Farrum,%20farra]
| Water goddesses
|-
| Fluctūs
| [[List of fluct-us on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Fluctus,%20fluct%C5%ABs]
| Goddesses, miscellaneous
|-
| Fossae
| [[List of fossae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Fossa,%20fossae]
| Goddesses of war
|-
| Labyrinthi
| [[List of labyrinthi on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Labyrinthus,%20labyrinthi]
| Goddesses, miscellaneous
|-
| Lineae
| [[List of lineae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Linea,%20lineae]
| Goddesses of war
|-
| Montes
| [[List of montes on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Mons,%20montes]
| Goddesses, miscellaneous (also one radar scientist)
|-
| Paterae
| [[List of paterae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Patera,%20paterae]
| Famous women
|-
| Planitiae
| [[List of planitiae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Planitia,%20planitiae]
| Mythological heroines
|-
| Plana
| [[List of plana on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Planum,%20plana]
| Goddesses of prosperity
|-
| Regiones
| [[List of regiones on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Regio,%20regiones]
| Giantesses and Titanesses (also two Greek alphanumeric)
|-
| Rupēs
| [[List of rup-es on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Rupes,%20rup%C4%93s]
| Goddesses of hearth and home
|-
| Terrae
| [[List of terrae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Terra,%20terrae]
| Goddesses of love
|-
| Tesserae
| [[List of tesserae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Tessera,%20tesserae]
| Goddesses of fate and fortune
|-
| Tholi
| [[List of tholi on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Tholus,%20tholi]
| Goddesses, miscellaneous
|-
| Undae
| [[List of undae on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Unda,%20undae]
| Desert goddesses
|-
| Valles
| [[List of valles on Venus|list]] [http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=VENUS&featureType=Vallis,%20valles]
| Word for planet Venus in various world languages (400&nbsp;km and longer); river goddesses (less than 400&nbsp;km in length)
|}

=== The [[Moon]] ===
{{see also|Selenography|List of features on the Moon|List of craters on the Moon|List of maria on the Moon|List of mountains on the Moon|List of valleys on the Moon}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Craters
| Craters are generally named after deceased scientists, scholars, artists and explorers who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field. Additionally, craters in or around [[Mare Moscoviense]] are named after deceased Russian cosmonauts and craters in and around [[Apollo crater]] are named after deceased American astronauts (see [[Space accidents and incidents]]). This convention may be extended if other space-faring countries suffer fatalities in spaceflight.
|- 
| Lacūs, Maria, Paludes, Sinūs
| These features are assigned names which are Latin terms describing weather and other abstract concepts.
|- 
| Montes
| Montes are named after terrestrial mountain ranges or nearby craters.
|- 
| Rupēs
| Rupēs are named after nearby mountain ranges (see above).
|- 
| Valles
| Valles are named after nearby features.
|-
| Others
| Features that don't fall into any of the above categories are named after nearby craters.
|}

=== Mars and martian satellites ===

==== [[Mars]] ====
[[Image:Karte Mars Schiaparelli MKL1888.png|thumb|200px|Early map of Mars by Giovanni Schiaparelli, which depicts classical albedo features]]

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Large craters
| Deceased scientists who have contributed to the study of Mars; writers and others who have contributed to the lore of Mars
|- 
| Small craters
| Villages of the world with a population of less than 100,000.
|- 
| Large valles
| Name for Mars/star in various languages
|- 
| Small valles
| Classical or modern names of rivers
|- 
| Other features
| From nearest named albedo feature on [[Giovanni Schiaparelli|Schiaparelli]] or [[Eugene Antoniadi|Antoniadi]] maps. See [[Classical albedo features on Mars]] for a list.
|}

When [[space probe]]s have landed on Mars, individual small features such as rocks, dunes, and hollows have often been given [[list of rocks on Mars|informal names]]. Many of these are frivolous: features have been named after [[ice cream]] (such as [[Cookies and Cream|Cookies N Cream]]); [[cartoon]] characters (such as [[SpongeBob SquarePants (character)|SpongeBob SquarePants]] and [[Patrick Star|Patrick]]); and 1970s music acts (such as [[ABBA]] and the [[Bee Gees]]).<ref>{{cite news |last=Chong |first=Jia-Rui |date=October 9, 2005 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05282/584655.stm |title=Map of Mars fills up with strange names |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>

==== [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]] ====
{{see also|Deimos (moon)#Named geological features}}
[[Image:SwiftCrater.gif|thumb|200px|The two named craters on Deimos]]
Features on Deimos are named after authors who wrote about Martian satellites. There are currently two named features on Deimos{{snd}} [[Swift (Deimian crater)|Swift crater]] and [[Voltaire (crater)|Voltaire crater]]{{snd}} after [[Jonathan Swift]] and [[Voltaire]] who predicted the presence of Martian moons.

==== [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] ====
{{see also|Phobos (moon)#Named geological features}}
All features on Phobos are named after scientists involved with the discovery, dynamics, or properties of the Martian satellites or people and places from [[Jonathan Swift]]'s ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]''.

=== Satellites of [[Jupiter]] ===

==== [[Amalthea (moon)|Amalthea]]====
{{see also|Amalthea (moon)#Named geological features}}
People and places associated with the Amalthea myth.

====[[Thebe (moon)|Thebe]]====

Features on Thebe are named after people and places associated with the Thebe myth. There is only one named feature on Thebe{{snd}} [[Zethus Crater]].

====[[Io (moon)|Io]]====

{{see also|List of geological features on Io|List of mountains on Io|List of paterae on Io}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Active eruptive centers
| Active volcanoes on Io are named after fire, sun or thunder gods or heroes.
|- 
| Catenae
| Crater chains are named after [[solar deity|Sun gods]].
|- 
| Fluctūs
| Names of fluctūs are derived from a nearby named feature, fire, sun, thunder or volcano gods, goddesses and heroes or mythical blacksmiths.
|- 
| Mensae, Montes, Plana, Regiones and Tholi
| These features can be named after places associated with [[Io (mythology)|Io mythology]], derived from nearby named features, or places from Dante's ''[[Divine Comedy|Inferno]]''
|- 
| Paterae
| Paterae on Io are named after fire, sun, thunder or volcano gods, heroes or goddesses or mythical blacksmiths.
|- 
| Valles
| Names of valleys are derived from nearby named features.
|}

====[[Europa (moon)|Europa]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Europa|List of craters on Europa|List of lineae on Europa}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Chaos
| Places associated with Celtic myths
|- 
| Craters
| Celtic gods and heroes
|- 
| Flexūs
| Places associated with the Europa myth
|- 
| Large ringed features
| Celtic stone circles
|- 
| Lenticulae
| Celtic gods and heroes
|- 
| Lineae
| People associated with the Europa myth
|- 
| Maculae
| Places associated with the Europa myth
|- 
| Regiones
| Places associated with Celtic myths
|}

====[[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Ganymede}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Catenae, craters
| Gods and heroes of ancient [[Middle East]]ern civilizations
|- 
| Faculae
| Places associated with Egyptian myths
|- 
| Fossae
| Gods (or principals) of ancient Fertile Crescent people
|- 
| Paterae
| Paterae on Ganymede are named after [[wadi]]s in the Middle East.
|-
| Regiones
| Astronomers who discovered Jovian satellites
|- 
| Sulci
| Places associated with myths of ancient people
|}

====[[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Callisto|List of craters on Callisto}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Large ringed features
| Homes of the gods and of heroes
|- 
| Craters
| Heroes and heroines from northern myths
|- 
| Catenae
| Mythological places in high latitudes
|}

=== Satellites of [[Saturn]] ===

==== [[Janus (moon)|Janus]]====
People from myth of [[Castor and Pollux]] (twins)

====[[Epimetheus (moon)|Epimetheus]]====
People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)

====[[Mimas (moon)|Mimas]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Mimas}}
People and places from [[Thomas Malory|Malory's]] ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'' legends (Baines translation)

====[[Enceladus]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Enceladus}}
People and places from Burton's ''Arabian Nights''

====[[Tethys (moon)|Tethys]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Tethys}}
People and places from Homer's ''Odyssey''

====[[Dione (moon)|Dione]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Dione}}
Locations from Roman mythology, or people and places from Virgil's ''Aeneid''

====[[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Rhea}}
People and places from creation myths

====[[Titan (moon)|Titan]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Titan}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Albedo features, terrae	
| Sacred or enchanted places, paradise, or celestial realms from legends, myths, stories, and poems of cultures from around the world
|-
| Colles	
| Names of characters from [[Middle-earth]], the fictional setting in fantasy novels by English author [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] (1892–1973)
|-
| Craters and ringed features	
| Gods and goddesses of wisdom
|-
| Facula and faculae	
| Facula: Names of islands on Earth that are not politically independent, Faculae: Names of archipelagos
|-
| Fluctūs	
| Gods and goddesses of beauty
|-
| Flumina	
| Names of mythical or imaginary rivers
|-
| Freta	
| Names of characters from the [[Foundation (book series)|''Foundation'' series]] of science fiction novels by American author [[Isaac Asimov]] (1920–1992)
|-
| Insulae	
| Names of islands from legends and myths
|-
| Lacūs and lacunae	
| Lakes on Earth, preferably with a shape similar to the lacus or lacuna on Titan
|-
| Mare and maria	
| Sea creatures from myth and literature
|-
| Montes	
| Names of mountains and peaks from Middle-earth, the fictional setting in fantasy novels by English author J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973)
|-
| Planitiae and labyrinthi	
| Names of planets from the [[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' series]] of science fiction novels by American author [[Frank Herbert]] (1920–1986)
|-
| Sinūs
| Names of terrestrial bays, coves, fjords or other inlets
|-
| Undae	
| Gods and goddesses of wind
|-
| Virgae 
| Gods and goddesses of rain
|}

====[[Hyperion (moon)|Hyperion]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Hyperion}}
Sun and Moon deities

====[[Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Iapetus}}
People and places from Sayers' translation of ''Chanson de Roland''; the only exception is [[Cassini Regio]], which is named after its discoverer, [[Giovanni Cassini]].

====[[Phoebe (moon)|Phoebe]]====
[[Image:Cratersofphoebe.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Examples of crater nomenclature on Phoebe]]

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Craters
| Craters of Phoebe are named after people associated with [[Phoebe (mythology)|Phoebe]] or people from ''[[Argonautica]]'' by [[Apollonius Rhodius]] or [[Gaius Valerius Flaccus]].
|-
| Other
| Non-crater features on Phoebe are named after places from ''Argonautica''.
|}

=== Satellites of [[Uranus]] ===
Satellites of Uranus are named for characters from the works of [[William Shakespeare]] or from ''[[The Rape of the Lock]]''.

====[[Puck (moon)|Puck]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Puck}}
Mischievous (Pucklike) spirits (class)

====[[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Miranda}}
Characters, places from Shakespeare's plays

====[[Ariel (moon)|Ariel]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Ariel}}
Light spirits (individual and class)

====[[Umbriel]]====
{{see also|List of craters on Umbriel}}
Dark spirits (individual)

====[[Titania (moon)|Titania]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Titania}}
Female Shakespearean characters, places

====[[Oberon (moon)|Oberon]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Oberon}}
Shakespearean tragic heroes and places

====Small satellites====
There are currently no named features on Uranian small satellites, however the naming convention is heroines from plays by Shakespeare and Pope.

=== Satellites of [[Neptune]] ===

====[[Proteus (moon)|Proteus]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Proteus}}
Features on Proteus are to be named after water-related spirits, gods or goddesses who are neither Greek nor Roman. The only named feature on Proteus is crater [[Pharos (crater)|Pharos]].

====[[Triton (moon)|Triton]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Triton}}
Geological features on Triton should be assigned aquatic names, excluding those which are Roman and Greek in origin. Possible themes for individual descriptor terms include worldwide aquatic spirits, famous terrestrial fountains or fountain locations, terrestrial aquatic features, famous terrestrial [[geyser]]s or geyser locations and terrestrial islands.

====[[Nereid (moon)|Nereid]]====

There are currently no named features on Nereid. When features are discovered, they are to be named after individual [[nereids]].

====Small satellites====

Features on other satellites of Neptune, once discovered, should be named after gods and goddesses associated with [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]]/[[Poseidon]] mythology or generic mythological aquatic beings.

=== Pluto and satellites ===
[[File:Pluto-Map-Annotated.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[List of geological features on Pluto|Informally named geographic features]] on Pluto]]

In February 2017, the IAU approved the following themes for surface features on Pluto and its satellites:<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Naming of Surface Features on Pluto and its Satellites: First Step Approved |url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1702/|website=International Astronomical Union |access-date=March 14, 2017 |date=February 23, 2017}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ourpluto.org/ | title=Pluto | access-date=2024-06-20 | archive-date=2015-03-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321213223/http://ourpluto.org/ | url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

==== [[Pluto]] ====
{{main|Geography of Pluto|List of geological features on Pluto}}
* Gods, goddesses, and other beings associated with the Underworld from mythology, folklore and literature.
* Names for the Underworld and for Underworld locales from mythology, folklore and literature.
* Heroes and other explorers of the Underworld.
* Scientists and engineers associated with Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.
* Pioneering space missions and spacecraft.
* Historic pioneers who crossed new horizons in the exploration of the Earth, sea and sky.

==== [[Charon (moon)|Charon]] ====
{{main|Geography of Charon|List of geological features on Charon}}
* Destinations and milestones of fictional space and other exploration.
* Fictional and mythological vessels of space and other exploration.
* Fictional and mythological voyagers, travellers and explorers.
* Authors and artists associated with space exploration, especially Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

==== [[Nix (moon)|Nix]] ====
* Deities of the night.

==== [[Hydra (moon)|Hydra]] ====
* Legendary serpents and dragons.

==== [[Kerberos (moon)|Kerberos]] ====
* Dogs from literature, mythology, and history.

==== [[Styx (moon)|Styx]] ====
* River gods.

=== [[Asteroid]]s ===

====[[1 Ceres]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Ceres}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Craters
| Agricultural deities
|- 
| ''other''
| Agricultural festivals
|}

====[[4 Vesta]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on Vesta}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Craters
| Historical and mythological women of Ancient Rome (in one case, [[Angioletta Coradini|Angioletta]], a modern-day female scientist who lived in Rome)
|- 
| other
| Festivals of Ancient Rome
|}

====[[243 Ida]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on 243 Ida and Dactyl}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
| Craters
| Caverns and grottos of the world
|- 
| Dorsa
| [[Galileo spacecraft|Galileo project]] participants
|- 
| Regiones
| Discoverer of Ida and places associated with the discoverer
|}

====[[Dactyl (asteroid)|(243) Ida I Dactyl]]====

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
|Craters
|Idaean dactyls
|}

====[[951 Gaspra]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on 951 Gaspra}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
|Craters
|Spas of the world
|-
|Regiones
|Discoverer of [[951 Gaspra#Exploration|Gaspra]], and [[Galileo spacecraft|Galileo project]] participants
|}

====[[253 Mathilde]]====
{{see also|List of craters on 253 Mathilde}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
|Craters
|Coal fields and basins of the world
|}

====[[433 Eros]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on 433 Eros}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature type
! Naming convention
|-
|Craters
|Mythological, literary, and historical names of lovers
|-
|Regiones
|Discoverers of Eros
|-
|Dorsa
|Scientists who have contributed to the exploration and study of Eros
|}

====[[25143 Itokawa]]====
{{see also|List of geological features on 25143 Itokawa}}