I had noticed before that some of the planets had names from mythology, but I didn’t know that all of the planets aside from Earth along with the well known moons were all named after Greek or Roman mythological characters. To keep them straight in my head and also to suggest why these planets are named as such, I will list them now.
Mercury is the Roman mythological god of commerce, travel, and thievery. Nasa suggests that this name most likely came about because Mercury moves so quickly across the sky. Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, has its name because it is the brightest object in the sky aside from the Sun and Moon. Earth is the only planet not named from mythology. Its roots are in Old English and Germanic languages. Mars is the Roman mythological god of War, and it probably got its name from its red color, the color of blood. Jupiter is the king of the gods in Roman mythology and received its name because it is the largest planet in our solar system. Saturn is the Roman god of agriculture. Nasa gives no explanation of its name on its website. Uranus is the ancient Greek deity of the Heavens, which is the earliest supreme god. Neptune, the Roman god of the sea is aptly named for its blue color. Pluto is the Roman god of the underworld. Pluto is so far from the Sun that it is darker, so the name is fitting.
The Greek/Roman names do not end with the planets. Most of the moons are named in a similar fashion. What I didn’t know is that the newly discovered moons do not get their final name when they are first discovered. They are first given a provisional name (boring scientific name) until the moon’s existence is verified and its orbit is determined. Once the moon checks out, the discoverer gets to suggest its name, but they are usually encouraged to follow tradition. Uranus is the only planet that is unique in regard to the names of its moons because they are named after literary characters from Shakespeare and Pope.
Overall, I learned a lot that I never knew about the origin of the names of planets and moons. Hopefully now that I know the story behind them, I will be able to always remember their names.
davidastronomy 