USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics

The name Victoria has been formally approved for the small Martian crater located at 2.05S, 5.5W in Meridiani Planum. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 10:16

The name Toro has been approved for the Martian crater located at 17.05N, 288.24W. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 07:46

Fifteen new crater names and an amended theme for montes have been approved for Mercury.

The new crater names are: Amaral, Beckett, Dali, Enwonwu, Glinka, Hovnatanian, Moody, Munch, Navoi, Nawahi, Oskison, Poe, Qi Baishi, Raden Saleh, and Sher-Gil. For more information about these names, see the list of Mercury names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

The theme for montes on Mercury has been amended to "Word for "hot" in various languages." See the list of categories for naming features on planets and satellites for a complete list of themes.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:04

The names Kivu Lacus and Punga Mare have been approved for use on Titan. For more information, see the Titan Nomenclature Table of Contents in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 07:30

The names Haworth and Lenard have been approved for the lunar craters located at 86.8S, 4W, and 85.2N, 105W, respectively. For more information, see the list of Moon crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:47

The name Endeavour has been approved for the Martian crater located at 2.28S, 5.23W. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:34

The name Haumea has been approved for the object previously known as 2003 EL61. There are now five objects in the Solar System classified as dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Eris, and Makemake.

Haumea's two moons have also been given new names. Hi'iaka (Haumea I) and Namaka (Haumea II) are both daughters of Haumea in Hawaiian mythology.

For more information, see the IAU announcement and the Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers page in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 10:27

The name Bogia has been approved for the Martian crater at 44.3S, 276.84W. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:47

The IAU has approved names for 39 craters, 9 montes, and 1 terra on Iapetus. For more information, see the Iapetus section of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 14:39

The name Afekan has been approved for the crater on Titan located at 25.8N, 200.3W. For more information, see the list of Titan crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:46

The name Morava Valles has been approved for the system of valleys located at 13.4S, 24.4W. For more information, see the list of Martian vallis names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:27

The name Heimdal has been approved for a small Martian crater near the Phoenix landing site. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:43

The names Dagonet, Lucas, Marhaus, Melyodas, Nero, and Royns have been approved for six craters on Mimas. For more information, see the list of Mimas crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:53

The name Makemake has been approved for the transneptunian dwarf planet (136472) 2005 FY9. Makemake is a creator god of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). For more information, see the page "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers" in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, and the IAU press release.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:14

The names Corinto, Naryn, Thila, and Wiltz have been approved for four craters on Mars. Please see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature for more information.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:14