Astrogeology Research Program

Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites

Mercury

Mercury top

Craters Deceased artists, musicians, painters, and authors who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field and have been recognized as art historically significant figures for more than 50 years
Dorsa Deceased scientists who have contributed to the study of Mercury
Fossae Significant works of architecture
Montes Word for "hot" in various languages
Planitiae Names for Mercury (either the planet or the god) in various languages
Rupēs Ships of discovery or scientific expeditions
Valles Radio telescope facilities

Venus

Venus top

Astra Goddesses, miscellaneous
Chasmata Goddesses of hunt; moon goddesses
Colles Sea goddesses
Coronae Fertility and earth goddesses
Craters Deceased women who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field (over 20 km); Common female first names (under 20 km)
Dorsa Sky goddesses
Farra Water goddesses
Fluctūs Goddesses, miscellaneous
Fossae Goddesses of war
Labyrinthi Goddesses, miscellaneous
Lineae Goddesses of war
Montes Goddesses, miscellaneous (also one physicist)
Paterae Famous women
Planitiae Mythological heroines
Plana Goddesses of prosperity
Regiones Giantesses and Titanesses (also two Greek alphanumeric)
Rupēs Goddesses of hearth and home
Tesserae Goddesses of fate and fortune
Terrae Goddesses of love
Tholi Goddesses, miscellaneous
Undae Desert goddesses
Valles Word for planet Venus in various world languages (400 km and longer); River goddesses (less than 400 km in length)

The Moon

Moon top

Craters Deceased scientists, scholars, artists and explorers who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field. Deceased Russian cosmonauts are commemorated by craters in and around Mare Moscoviense. Deceased American astronauts are commemorated by craters in and around the crater Apollo. Appropriate locations will be provided in the future for other space-faring nations should they also suffer fatalities.
Lacūs, Maria, Paludes, Sinūs, Oceanus, Planitiae Latin terms describing weather and other abstract concepts
Montes Terrestrial mountain ranges or nearby craters
Rupēs Name of nearby mountain ranges (terrestrial names)
Valles Named from nearby features
Other features (catenae, dorsa, rimae) Named from nearby craters

Mars and Martian Satellites

Mars top

Albedo Features Names from classical mythology assigned by Schiaparelli and Antoniadi
Large craters (approximately 60 km and larger) Deceased scientists who have contributed to the study of Mars; writers and others who have contributed to the lore of Mars
Small craters (approximately 60 km and smaller) Small towns and villages of the world with populations of approximately 100,000 or less
Large valles Name for Mars/star in various languages
Small valles Classical or modern names of rivers
Other features From a nearby named albedo feature on Schiaparelli or Antoniadi maps

Deimos
Authors who wrote about martian satellites

Phobos
Scientists involved with the discovery, dynamics, or properties of the martian satellites, and people and places from Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels"

Deimos
Authors who wrote about martian satellites

Phobos
Scientists involved with the discovery, dynamics, or properties of the martian satellites, and people and places from Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels"

Jovian Satellites

Amalthea top

People and places associated with the Amalthea myth

Thebe
People and places associated with the Thebe myth

Io
Active eruptive centers Fire, sun, thunder, and volcano gods and heroes
Catenae Sun gods
Fluctūs Name derived from nearby named feature, or fire, sun, thunder, volcano gods, goddesses and heroes, or mythical blacksmiths
Mensae People associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or people from Dante's Inferno
Montes Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Paterae Fire, sun, thunder, volcano gods, heroes, goddesses, mythical blacksmiths, including names from the associated eruptive center
Plana Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Regiones Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Tholi Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Valles Named derived from nearby named feature

Europa
Chaos Places associated with Celtic myths
Craters Celtic gods and heroes
Flexūs Places associated with the Europa myth, or Celtic stone rows
Large ringed features Celtic stone circles
Lenticulae Celtic gods and heroes
Lineae People associated with the Europa myth, or Celtic stone rows
Maculae Places associated with the Europa myth
Regiones Places associated with Celtic myths

Ganymede
Catenae Gods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Craters Gods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Faculae Places associated with Egyptian myths
Fossae Gods (or principals) of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Paterae Dry wadis (channels) of the Fertile Crescent region
Regiones Astronomers who discovered Jovian satellites
Sulci Places associated with myths of ancient people

Callisto
Names are drawn from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North such as Norse, Chukchi, Inuit, Sami, etc.
Catenae Rivers, valleys, and ravines from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Craters Characters from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Faculae Gods and characters of frost, snow, cold, and sleet from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Large ringed features Places (other than rivers, valleys and ravines) from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North

Thebe
People and places associated with the Thebe myth

Io
Active eruptive centers	Fire, sun, thunder, and volcano gods and heroes
Catenae	Sun gods
Fluctūs	Name derived from nearby named feature, or fire, sun, thunder, volcano gods, goddesses and heroes, or mythical blacksmiths
Mensae	People associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or people from Dante's Inferno
Montes	Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Paterae	Fire, sun, thunder, volcano gods, heroes, goddesses, mythical blacksmiths, including names from the associated eruptive center
Plana	Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Regiones	Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Tholi	Places associated with Io myth, derived from nearby feature, or places from Dante's Inferno
Valles	Named derived from nearby named feature

Europa
Chaos	Places associated with Celtic myths
Craters	Celtic gods and heroes
Flexūs	Places associated with the Europa myth, or Celtic stone rows
Large ringed features	Celtic stone circles
Lenticulae	Celtic gods and heroes
Lineae	People associated with the Europa myth, or Celtic stone rows
Maculae	Places associated with the Europa myth
Regiones	Places associated with Celtic myths

Ganymede
Catenae	Gods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Craters	Gods and heroes of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Faculae	Places associated with Egyptian myths
Fossae	Gods (or principals) of ancient Fertile Crescent people
Paterae	Dry wadis (channels) of the Fertile Crescent region
Regiones	Astronomers who discovered Jovian satellites
Sulci	Places associated with myths of ancient people

Callisto
Names are drawn from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North such as Norse, Chukchi, Inuit, Sami, etc.
Catenae	Rivers, valleys, and ravines from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Craters	Characters from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Faculae	Gods and characters of frost, snow, cold, and sleet from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North
Large ringed features	Places (other than rivers, valleys and ravines) from myths and folktales of cultures of the Far North

Satellites of Saturn

Janus top

People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)

Epimetheus
People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)

Mimas
Craters People from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur legends (Baines translation), also one crater named for the discoverer of Mimas
Chasmata Places from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur legends (Baines translation), and places from Greek myths about giants (Mimas was named for a giant)

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 (with Asian emphasis)

Titan
Albedo features Sacred or enchanted places, paradise, or celestial realms from legends, myths, stories, and poems of cultures from around the world
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
Insulae Names of islands from legends and myths
Lacūs Lakes on Earth, preferably with a shape similar to the lacus on Titan
Maria Sea creatures from myth and literature
Other features (maculae, regiones, and arcūs) Deities of happiness, peace, and harmony from world cultures
Undae Gods and goddesses of wind
Virgae Gods and goddesses of rain

Hyperion
Sun and Moon deities

Iapetus
People and places from Sayers' translation of Chanson de Roland (For craters, French names are generally used in the bright areas, and Saracen names are generally used in the dark areas)

Phoebe
Craters People associated with Phoebe, people from the Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius and Valerius Flaccus
Other features Places from the Argonautica

Epimetheus
People from myth of Castor and Pollux (twins)

Mimas
Craters	People from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur legends (Baines translation), also one crater named for the discoverer of Mimas
Chasmata	Places from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur legends (Baines translation), and places from Greek myths about giants (Mimas was named for a giant)

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 (with Asian emphasis)

Titan
Albedo features	Sacred or enchanted places, paradise, or celestial realms from legends, myths, stories, and poems of cultures from around the world
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
Insulae	Names of islands from legends and myths
Lacūs	Lakes on Earth, preferably with a shape similar to the lacus on Titan
Maria	Sea creatures from myth and literature
Other features (maculae, regiones, and arcūs)	Deities of happiness, peace, and harmony from world cultures
Undae	Gods and goddesses of wind
Virgae	Gods and goddesses of rain

Hyperion
Sun and Moon deities

Iapetus
People and places from Sayers' translation of Chanson de Roland (For craters, French names are generally used in the bright areas, and Saracen names are generally used in the dark areas)

Phoebe
Craters	People associated with Phoebe, people from the Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius and Valerius Flaccus
Other features	Places from the Argonautica

Satellites of Uranus

Puck top

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

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 top

Water-related spirits, gods, goddesses (excluding Greek and Roman names)

Triton
Aquatic names, excluding Roman and Greek. Possible categories include worldwide aquatic spirits, terrestrial fountains or fountain locations, terrestrial aquatic features, 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

Triton
Aquatic names, excluding Roman and Greek. Possible categories include worldwide aquatic spirits, terrestrial fountains or fountain locations, terrestrial aquatic features, 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

Pluto top

Underworld deities

Asteroids

Ida top

Craters Caverns and grottos of the world
Dorsa Galileo project participants
Regiones Discoverer of Ida and places associated with the discoverer

Dactyl
Craters Idaean dactyls

Gaspra
Craters Spas of the world
Regiones Discoverer of Gaspra, and Galileo project participants

Mathilde
Craters Coal fields and basins of the world

Eros
Craters Mythological and legendary names of an erotic nature
Regiones Discoverers of Eros
Dorsa Scientists who have contributed to the exploration and study of Eros

Dactyl
Craters	Idaean dactyls

Gaspra
Craters	Spas of the world
Regiones	Discoverer of Gaspra, and Galileo project participants

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Eros
Craters	Mythological and legendary names of an erotic nature
Regiones	Discoverers of Eros
Dorsa	Scientists who have contributed to the exploration and study of Eros