How do moons get their exotic names? Who makes the final decision? For practical reasons, a new moon is given
a working title that astronomers use to identify it while waiting for the official name.
This temporary name usually consists of the year of discovery and a number indicating the order of discovery in
that year. In the case of Saturn's moons, these provisional names follow the format S/2005-S1, S/2005-S2 etc.
Once the existence of the moon is confirmed and its orbit determined, the moon is given a final name by the
International Astronomical Union (IAU), the
organization that assumed this task since 1919. While anyone can submit name suggestions, the final decision is made
by a committee within the organization called the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.
Names usually come from characters in Greek and Roman mythology. For example, in the case of Saturn, moons
are named after Saturn's brothers, the Titans, and Saturn's sisters, the Titanesses. These were mythological giants
who were believed to rule in the heavens before Jupiter conquered them. So, 17 of the first discovered moons of
Saturn bear those names. Titan was given its name because the moon is so much larger than the others.
