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Planetary Nomenclature: Information and Guidelines for Geologic Mappers 2019 Planetary Geologic Mappers 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2154) 7031.pdf PLANETARY NOMENCLATURE: INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES FOR GEOLOGIC MAPPERS. Tenielle Gaither1 and James Skinner, Jr. 1, 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 having political, military, or religious uous system of planetary nomenclature that repre- significance are not allowed. sents cultures and countries from all regions of Earth. WGPSN members include Rita Schulz Guidelines for Geologic Mappers: Standard- (chair) and 8 other members representing countries ized planetary nomenclature is particularly useful around the globe. Since the 1980’s, the USGS As- in planetary geologic maps. These names provide trogeology Science Center has managed (for the reliable points of reference for mappers to describe IAU and with the financial support of NASA) the features, units, and histories. As such, planetary ever-growing database of planetary names, the mappers are some of the heaviest users of planetary online Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. This names. To facilitate the correct use of these names, abstract provides a summary of the program status mappers should continuously review the official as well as guidelines for geologic mappers. nomenclature in their map area early in the map- Status: There are currently 15,548 non-terres- ping process, as all names in the map area must be trial surface feature names in use for all planets, shown on the published map (provided the map satellites, and small bodies. The average number of scale allows). To facilitate correct application of name approvals per year is 131. Requests for one the nomenclature in GIS mapping, point shapefiles or two feature names at a time are the most com- are available for download on each planetary mon, but years in which there are active missions body’s homepage. Polygon shapefiles will be to new bodies, or new higher resolution image data available for select bodies (Mercury, Mars, Moon, become available, can bring name requests con- Ceres, Io, Pluto) by June 2019. Online PDF maps taining dozens of features. of all current nomenclature for each body are avail- Purpose and Rules: Planetary nomenclature able in the Gazetteer as well. Authors of geologic is a tool that helps to uniquely identify features on maps submitted for technical review are encour- the surfaces of planets and satellites, so that they aged to use these resources for identifying and can be reliably located, described, and accurately placing nomenclature. However, mappers should discussed and compared within the scientific com- be aware that names should be scaled and extended munity. The names are particularly helpful in pub- across the associated feature, preferably as feature lication, including peer-reviewed geologic maps. annotation in GIS (i.e., labeled point files are inad- Approved names are listed in the Transactions of equate for technical review). USGS will assist with the IAU [1] and on the Gazetteer of Planetary No- final placement but good faith efforts should be menclature website [2]. Any names currently in made to assist with placement of names. use that are not listed in References 1 and 2 are not Geologic mappers should also assess any impli- official. cations of the nomenclature for the mapping. For Planetary names must adhere to rules and con- example, if there is an approved crater name but no ventions established by the IAU WGPSN (see crater unit has been mapped, the mapper should http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Rules for consider whether a crater unit should be mapped. the complete list): Likewise, feature types should be checked with the • Planetary names should be simple, clear and geologic units (e.g., if there is a dorsum name on a unambiguous. feature mapped as a fossa, the terminology should • Features should be named only when they are be corrected). Using the online nomenclature maps scientifically significant and when the naming as a guide, the mapper should ensure that names 2019 Planetary Geologic Mappers 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2154) 7031.pdf are placed correctly, so that the positioning of each each name (reliable web sites and scanned online name shows the location and extent of the feature. books are permitted). Suggested names must also The correct fonts must be used for each feature fit the approved theme for each feature type on name (see Table 1). each body (see http://plane- tarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories). Re- Nomenclature Fonts for USGS Geologic Maps quests to name a crater specifically to honor an in- Arial Times New Roman Italic dividual rather than for scientific needs are not ac- Albedo features Collis, colles cepted. Arcus, arcūs Corona, coronae Before submitting a name request, the online Crater, craters Dorsum, dorsa database and maps showing named features Eruptive centers Facula, faculae (http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Images) Planitia, planitiae Macula, maculae should be consulted to confirm that the feature is Planum, plana Mensa, mensae not already named. If a specific name is included Terra, terrae Mons, montes in the request, the database should also be checked Tessera, tesserae Patera, paterae to ensure the name has not already been approved Vastitas, vastitates Regio, regiones for a different feature. Tholus, tholi Name Approval Process: Name requests are Corona, coronae first reviewed by one of six task groups (Mercury, Arial Italic Venus, Moon, Mars, Outer Solar System, and Catena, catenae Linea, lineae Small Bodies). After a task group has reviewed a Cavus, cavi Lingula, lingulae Chaos, chaoses Oceanus, oceani proposal, it is submitted to the WGPSN. Allow Chasma, chasmata Palus, paludes four to six weeks for the review and approval pro- Farrum, farra Rima, rimae cess, but more time may be necessary if the pro- Flexus, flexūs Rupes, rupēs posal is complicated, multiple feature names are Fluctus, fluctūs Scopulus, scopuli being requested, or if questions are raised during Flumen, flumina Serpens, serpentes the review process. Name requests should be sub- Fossa, fossae Sinus, sinūs mitted well in advance of publication deadlines. Fretum, freta Sulcus, sulci Upon WGPSN approval, names are considered Labes, labēs Unda, undae formally approved and it is then appropriate to use Labyrinthus, labyrinthi Vallis, valles them in publications. Approved names are imme- Lacus, lacūs diately entered into the database and shown on the Table 1. Fonts used for different feature types in USGS- website. published geologic maps. Font sizes should be scaled to Summary: The USGS Planetary Nomenclature the size of the feature. project supports ongoing planetary research and geologic mapping, and the participation of knowl- Only official names may appear on USGS- edgeable scientists and experts in this process is vi- published maps. An official name should be re- tal to its success. Questions about the nomenclature quested for any unnamed morphological or topo- database and the naming process can be sent to graphic feature that will be a primary focus of the Tenielle Gaither, USGS Astrogeology Science mapping and/or map text. New name requests Center, 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001, should come as early as possible in the mapping or by email to [email protected]. phase, so that name proposals do not delay map Acknowledgments: Funding for T. Gaither has production. been provided by NASA-USGS PSDI IAA. Submitting a Name Request: The Gazetteer References: [1] Transactions of the IAU, Vol. includes an online Name Request Form XXIXB, January 2019. http://www.iau.org/sci- (http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/FeatureName ence/publications/iau/transactions_b/. [2] Working Request) that can be used by members of the pro- Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. Gazet- fessional science community. A specific name may teer of Planetary Nomenclature. International As- be suggested for a feature, but the name is subject tronomical Union. April 4, 2019. http://plane- to IAU review and there is no guarantee it will be tarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. approved. A published reference is required for .
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