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The Iau/Wgpsn Lunar Task Group and the Status of Lunar Nomenclature 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2009) 2016.pdf THE IAU/WGPSN LUNAR TASK GROUP AND THE STATUS OF LUNAR NOMENCLATURE. V. Shevchenko1, F. El-Baz2, L. Gaddis3, H. Hiesinger4, Yu. Shkuratov5, E. Whitaker6, L. Wilson7, and J. Blue3, 1Dept. Lunar & Planetary Research, Sternberg State Astron. Inst., Moscow State Univ., Moscow, Russia; 2Center for Rem. Sensing, Boston Univ., Boston, MA; 3USGS/Astrogeology, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; 4Inst. fuer Planetologie, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Univ. Muenster, Munster, Germany; 5Astron. Inst. Kharkiv Nat. Univ., Kharkov, 6 7 Ukraine; Tucson, AZ; Dept. Env. Science, Inst. Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancas- ter Univ., Lancaster, UK. [[email protected]]. Introduction: The task of naming fea- special scientific interest, and when the tures on the Moon is managed initially by the naming is useful to the planetary scientific Lunar Task Group (LTG) of the International and cartographic communities. The number Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group of names chosen for each body should be kept for Planetary System Nomenclature to a minimum. Names should be international (WGPSN). LTG members include Vladislav in origin, with equitable selection from dif- Shevchenko (Chair) and six lunar scientists ferent ethnic groups and/or countries on each who hail from countries across the globe. map. Names with political, military, or reli- Given the recent increase in lunar exploration gious significance are not allowed. Com- and research, and the fact that many lunar memoration of persons (who must be de- features of likely scientific interest have yet ceased for more than 3 years) is not a goal in to be named (Table 1), it is timely to summa- itself, but may be approved in special circum- rize the status of lunar nomenclature and the stances and is reserved for persons of high name bank, as well as the process for submit- and enduring international standing. Names ting requests for naming features on the for lunar features must include appropriate Moon. descriptor terms and must be chosen from Table 1. Status of nomenclature for lunar craters. approved categories. For example, lunar Crater Diameter (km) Named Craters Unnamed mountains (descriptor=mons, montes) are Craters named for terrestrial mountain ranges or 21 – 40 296 3750 nearby craters (see 41 - 80 548 1550 http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append6.html ). 81-160 308 416 Status of Lunar Nomenclature: All lu- >160 59 74 nar features with IAU-approved names can be Nomenclature Purpose and Rules: viewed on 1:1 million maps in the online Planetary nomenclature is a tool used to iden- Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature tify uniquely a feature on the surface of a (http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/dAtlas.html). planet or satellite so it can be readily located, There are now almost 9000 IAU-approved described, and discussed. Approved names names in use on the Moon [1, 4], including are listed in IAU Transactions and the Gazet- 1521 named craters and 7056 lettered craters teer of Planetary Nomenclature [1; see (roughly one named crater for every 61 km2 http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/] and must area). Lunar names describe 18 feature types: follow established rules and conventions (see catenae, craters, dorsa, fossae, lacūs, landing http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/rules.html). site names, maria, montes, oceanus, paludes, The online edition of the Gazetteer super- planitiae, promontoria, rimae, rupēs, lettered sedes earlier volumes [2, 3]. craters (so-called "satellite features"; [5]), Planetary names should be simple, clear, sinūs, and valles. As new names are approved and unambiguous. Features (generally >100 by the IAU, they will immediately be added m) should be named only when they have to the online maps. In very special cases, 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2009) 2016.pdf such as for features of high scientific interest http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/dAtlasPref such as ‘cold-trap’ craters at the lunar South ace.html). Requests must be submitted on the Pole, lettered craters can be renamed with Name Request Form at formal names from the lunar name bank. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/jsp/request The Lunar Name Bank: The LTG Chair .jsp. Allow at least 6 to 8 weeks for the re- maintains a list or ‘bank’ of names that meet view and approval process, but more time naming rules and have been approved for use may be necessary if the proposal is compli- on the Moon. Requests for feature names are cated or if questions are raised during the re- drawn directly from this name bank by the view process. Upon successful review by the LTG Chair. The lunar name bank currently WGPSN, approved names can be used on includes more than 250 names of prominent maps and in publications. You are encour- individuals, including 45 names of Nobel aged to submit name requests well in ad- prize winners. Additional names that meet vance of your publication deadlines. IAU naming criteria for the Moon can be Summary: The members of the IAU suggested by investigators for features that Working Group for Planetary System No- require names. It is likely that additional menclature and its Task Groups have worked names will be needed in the near future, and since the early 1970s to provide a clear sys- investigators are encouraged to submit appro- tem of planetary nomenclature that represents priate names for consideration by the LTG. cultures and countries from all regions of Approval of Names: The major task of Earth. This activity supports ongoing plane- the LTG is to respond to and review name tary research and exploration, and the partici- requests from the international lunar science pation of knowledgeable scientists and ex- community. Official requests are commonly perts in this process is vital to its success. submitted (using the required form, see be- Questions about the nomenclature database low) to support ongoing scientific research, and naming process should be sent to Jennifer mapping and cartography, and (on rare occa- Blue, USGS Astrogeology Program, 2255 N. sions) to commemorate significant contribu- Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, or tors to lunar science. Names successfully re- by e-mail at [email protected]. viewed by the LTG are submitted to the References: [1] International Astro- WGPSN for review. If this review is passed nomical Union Working Group for Planetary successfully, names are considered approved System Nomenclature, Gazetteer of Planetary and they are immediately entered into the Nomenclature, December 19, 2008, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature and http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. [2] Ma- posted on its web site. Objections to approved sursky, H. et al., 1986, Ann. Gazetteer of names based on significant, substantive prob- Planetary System Nomenclature, USGS lems must be forwarded in writing or email to Open-File Report 84-692. [3] Batson, R.M. the IAU Division III President within three and J.F Russell, editors, 1995, Gazetteer of months from the time the name was placed on Planetary Nomenclature 1994, USGS Bulletin the web site. 2129. [4] Whitaker, E.A., 1999, Mapping and Submitting a Name Request: If you are Naming the Moon, Cambridge University a professional planetary scientist doing lunar Press, Cambridge. [5] Andersson, L.E. and research or mapping and you wish to submit a E.A. Whitaker, 1982, NASA Catalogue of formal name request, you should first review Lunar Nomenclature, NASA Reference Pub- the online database [1] and maps of lunar lication 1097. nomenclature (see .
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