Planetary Nomenclature: Information and Guidelines for Geologic Mappers

Planetary Geologic Mappers 2021 (LPI Contrib. No. 2610) 7018.pdf

PLANETARY NOMENCLATURE: INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES FOR GEOLOGIC MAPPERS. Tenielle Gaither1 and Amber Gullikson1, 1USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona ([email protected]).

Introduction: The task of naming planetary is useful to the scientific and cartographic surface features, rings, and natural satellites is communities at large. managed by the International Astronomical Un- • Name duplication on two or more bodies is ion’s (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System discouraged. Nomenclature (WGPSN). The volunteer members • Solar system nomenclature should be interna- of the WGPSN and its task groups have worked tional in its choice of names. since the early 1970s to provide a clear, unambig- • Names with political, military, or religious sig- uous system of planetary nomenclature that repre- nificance are not allowed. sents cultures and countries from all regions of Guidelines for Geologic Mappers: Standard- Earth. WGPSN members include Rita Schulz ized planetary nomenclature is particularly useful (chair) and 8 other members representing countries in planetary geologic maps. These names provide around the globe. Since the 1980s, the USGS As- reliable points of reference for mappers to describe trogeology Science Center has managed (for the features, units, and histories. As such, planetary IAU and with the financial support of NASA) the mappers are some of the heaviest users of planetary ever-growing database of planetary names, the names. To facilitate the correct use of these names, online Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. This mappers should continuously review the official abstract provides a summary of the program status nomenclature in their map area early in the map- as well as guidelines for geologic mappers. ping process, as all names in the map area must be Status: There are currently 15,718 non-terres- shown on the published map (provided the map trial surface feature names in use for all planets, scale allows). To facilitate correct application of satellites, and small bodies. The average number of the nomenclature in GIS mapping, point shapefiles name approvals per year is 131. Requests for one are available for download on each planetary or two feature names at a time are the most com- body’s homepage. Online PDF maps of all current mon, but years in which there are active missions nomenclature for each body are available in the to new bodies, or new higher resolution image data Gazetteer as well. Authors of geologic maps sub- become available, can bring name requests con- mitted for technical review are encouraged to use taining dozens of features. these resources for identifying and placing nomen- Purpose and Rules: Planetary nomenclature clature. is a tool that helps to uniquely identify features on Geologic mappers should assess any implica- the surfaces of planets and satellites, so that they tions of the nomenclature for the mapping. For ex- can be reliably located, described, and accurately ample, if there is an approved crater name but no discussed and compared across the scientific com- crater unit has been mapped, the mapper should munity. The names are particularly helpful in pub- consider whether a crater unit should be mapped. lication, including peer-reviewed geologic maps. Likewise, feature types should be checked with the Approved names are listed in the Transactions of geologic units (e.g., if there is a dorsum name on a the IAU [1] and on the Gazetteer of Planetary No- feature mapped as a fossa, the terminology should menclature website [2]. Any names currently in be corrected). use that are not listed in References 1 and 2 are not Nomenclature fonts are selected according to official. the feature type (see Table 1), and the correct fonts Planetary names must adhere to rules and con- must be used for each feature name. Feature labels ventions established by the IAU WGPSN (see should be scaled appropriately and extend across http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Rules for the associated feature, preferably as feature anno- the complete list): tation in GIS (i.e., labeled point files are inade- • Planetary names should be simple, clear and quate for technical review). Using the online no- unambiguous. menclature maps as a guide, the mapper should en- • Features should be named only when they are sure that names are placed correctly, so that the po- scientifically significant and when the naming Planetary Geologic Mappers 2021 (LPI Contrib. No. 2610) 7018.pdf

sitioning of each name shows the location and ex- books are permitted). Suggested names must also tent of the feature. USGS will assist with final fit the approved theme for each feature type on placement but good faith efforts should be made in each body (see http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/ the initial placement of names. Page/Categories). Requests to name a crater spe- cifically to honor an individual rather than for sci- Nomenclature Fonts for USGS Geologic Maps entific needs are not accepted. Before submitting Arial Times New Roman Italic a name request, the online database and maps Albedo features Collis, colles showing named features should be consulted to Arcus, arcūs Corona, coronae confirm that the feature is not already named. If a Crater, craters Dorsum, dorsa specific name is included in the request, the data- Eruptive centers Facula, faculae base should also be checked to ensure the name has Planitia, planitiae Macula, maculae not already been approved for a different feature. Planum, plana Mensa, mensae Name Approval Process: Name requests are Terra, terrae Mons, montes first reviewed by one of six task groups (Mercury, Tessera, tesserae Patera, paterae Venus, Moon, Mars, Outer Solar System, and Vastitas, vastitates Regio, regiones Small Bodies). After a task group has reviewed a Tholus, tholi proposal, it is submitted to the WGPSN. Allow Corona, coronae four to six weeks for the review and approval pro- Arial Italic cess, but more time may be necessary if the pro- Catena, catenae Linea, lineae posal is complicated, multiple feature names are Cavus, cavi Lingula, lingulae Chaos, chaoses Oceanus, oceani being requested, or if questions are raised during Chasma, chasmata Palus, paludes the review process. Name requests should be sub- Farrum, farra Rima, rimae mitted well in advance of publication deadlines. Flexus, flexūs Rupes, rupēs Upon WGPSN approval, names are considered Fluctus, fluctūs Scopulus, scopuli formally approved and it is then appropriate to use Flumen, flumina Serpens, serpentes them in publications. Approved names are imme- Fossa, fossae Sinus, sinūs diately entered into the database and a feature page Fretum, freta Sulcus, sulci is viewable on the Gazetteer. Labes, labēs Unda, undae Summary: The USGS Planetary Nomenclature Labyrinthus, labyrinthi Vallis, valles project supports ongoing planetary research and Lacus, lacūs geologic mapping, and the participation of knowl- Table 1. Fonts used for different feature types in USGS- edgeable scientists and experts in this process is vi- published geologic maps. Font sizes should be scaled to tal to its success. Questions about the nomenclature the size of the feature. database and the naming process can be sent to Tenielle Gaither, USGS Astrogeology Science Submitting a Name Request: Only official Center, 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001, names may appear on USGS-published maps. An or by email to [email protected]. official name should be requested for any unnamed Acknowledgments: Funding for T. Gaither has morphological or topographic feature that will be a been provided by NASA-USGS PSDI IAA. primary focus of the mapping and/or map text. References: [1] Transactions of the IAU, Vol. New name requests should come as early as possi- XXIXB, January 2019. http://www.iau.org/sci- ble in the mapping phase, so that name proposals ence/publications/iau/transactions_b/. [2] Working do not delay map production. The Gazetteer in- Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. Gazet- cludes an online Name Request Form teer of Planetary Nomenclature. International As- (http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/FeatureName tronomical Union. April 4, 2019. http://plane- Request) that can be used by members of the pro- tarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. fessional science community. A specific name may be suggested for a feature, but the name is subject to IAU review and there is no guarantee it will be approved. A published reference is required for each name (reliable web sites and scanned online