USGS Astrogeology: Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Specifics of the Gazetteer

Overview

Coordinates listed in columns labeled "lat" and "long" are taken from the maps identified in columns "quad" and "map," or from digital images. Note that coordinates of features are updated from time to time as new control networks and image mosaics become available. For maps published by the USGS the field "quad" identifies the informal name of the map, and the field "map" lists the USGS map identification ("I" or "SIM") number. In identifying lunar maps published by the DMA or ACIC in the 1960s and early 1970s or Soviet maps of Venus published in 1985 and 1986, we use different systems of identification, as shown in the key below.

We identify the continent ("ct") and ethnic group ("et") of a name in order to compute and equalize international representation (see Abbreviations for Continents, Countries, and Ethnic Groups).

Names within brackets are not currently in use. These names have either been dropped or were never officially approved. Dropped names are shown in gray type and in brackets, and names that were never offically approved are shown in brown type and in brackets.

Column Classification and Codes

Label

Description

P (planet)

Planet on which name is found (This field does not appear in the sort by planet and feature type.)

Key to Planet codes
Code	Planet/System
A	asteroid belt
E	Earth
H	Mercury (Hermes)
J	Jupiter
M	Mars
N	Neptune
S	Saturn
U	Uranus
V	Venus

Sa (satellite or asteroid)

Satellite or asteroid on which name is found. An upper case letter in this field indicates that the feature name is located on the planet, not on a satellite.

Key to satellite codes
Code	Satellite
am	Amalthea
ar	Ariel
ca	Callisto
da	Dactyl
de	Deimos
di	Dione
en	Enceladus
ep	Epimetheus
er	Eros
eu	Europa
ga	Ganymede
gs	Gaspra
hy	Hyperion
ia	Iapetus
id	Ida
io	Io
it	Itokawa
ja	Janus
m	Moon
M	Mars with planetographic latitude and west longitude
ME	Mars with planetocentric latitude and east longitude
ma	Mathilde
mi	Mimas
mr	Miranda
ne	Nereid
ob	Oberon
pe	Phoebe
ph	Phobos
pr	Proteus
pu	Puck
rh	Rhea
ss	small satellites of Uranus
te	Tethys
th	Thebe
tn	Titan
ti	Titania
tr	Triton
um	Umbriel

name (feature name)

As spelled by honoree or by reference shown in Sources of Planetary Names; brackets indicate that the name has been dropped or was never officially approved. This field shows the names with the diacritical marks.

name (legacy)

This field shows the names with the codes that represent the diacritical marks.

clat ( center latitude)

Latitude of center of feature. Positive numbers indicate that the feature is located in the northern hemisphere, and negative numbers indicate that the feature is located in the southern hemisphere.

clon (center longitude)

Longitude of center of feature. Degrees 0 to 360 in an east or west system. On the Moon, positive longitude values indicate east longitudes, and negative values indicate west longitudes.

slat (starting latitude)

Starting latitude of feature. Positive numbers indicate that the feature is located in the northern hemisphere, and negative numbers indicate that the feature is located in the southern hemisphere.

elat (ending latitude)

Ending latitude of feature. Positive numbers indicate that the feature is located in the northern hemisphere, and negative numbers indicate that the feature is located in the southern hemisphere.

slon (starting longitude)

Starting longitude of feature. Degrees 0 to 360 in an east or west system. On the Moon, positive longitude values indicate east longitudes, and negative values indicate west longitudes.

elon (ending longitude)

Ending longitude of feature. Degrees 0 to 360 in an east or west system. On the Moon, positive longitude values indicate east longitudes, and negative values indicate west longitudes.

diam (diameter)

Diameter or longest dimension of feature in kilometers.

ct (continent)

Continent or large geographic division that is origin of name (see Abbreviations for Continents, Countries, and Ethnic Groups).

et (ethnic/cultural group or country)

Country or ethnic group that is origin of name (see Abbreviations for Continents, Countries, and Ethnic Groups).

map (map number)

USGS, Soviet, or Defense Mapping Agency number of map.

quad (map name)

Informal name of map; planet or satellite abbreviation or number, or abbreviation of map name.

as (approval status)

Number indicates IAU level of approval:

Key to Approval Level Codes
Code	Approval Level
1	Proposed (not currently used)
2	Task Group approval (not currently used)
3	WGPSN approval (not currently used)
4	Executive Committee approval (not currently used)
5	Adopted by IAU
6	Dropped, no longer in use
7	Never approved by the IAU

ad (approval date)

Date when name was adopted. Starting in mid-September 2006, complete dates are recorded (YYYY-MM-DD). Before mid-September 2006, only the approval year was recorded.

ref (reference)

Reference from which spelling and origin information were derived (see Sources of Planetary Names).

ft (feature type)

Latin or Greek descriptor term (see Descriptor Terms (Feature Types)).

origin

Short explanation of name.

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Astrogeology Research Program

Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Specifics of the Gazetteer

Overview

Column Classification and Codes