Here is a link to Part 1!
[name_m]Astronomy[/name_m] holds a special corner in my heart, and this post is an ode to that. We all know the usual names - [name_f]Estelle[/name_f], [name_u]Orion[/name_u], [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_u]Atlas[/name_u] or [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], but I want something more uncommon. I’m looking for something along the lines of [name_m]Arcturus[/name_m] and Helike. The names in this post are only limited to names of stars and moons. I have deliberately left out names like [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] or [name_f]Cassiopeia[/name_f], since they are well known on the forums.
Without further ado, here are my showstopping names I am thinking about:
- Helike - F - “crack willow”
Helike, also known as [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] XLV, is a moon of [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u]. It was named for Helike, one of the nymphs that nursed [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] in [name_f]Crete[/name_f]. It belongs to the Ananke group of satellites. Helike was also the ancient name of the constellation [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Major[/name_m].
- [name_m]Hyperion[/name_m] - M - “the high ruler”
[name_m]Hyperion[/name_m] is the largest of Saturn’s irregular, nonspherical moons. [name_u]John[/name_u] [name_m]Herschel[/name_m] suggested that the moons of [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] be associated with the mythical brothers and sisters of Kronus. (Kronus is the equivalent of the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] in Greek mythology.) The name comes from the Greek [name_m]Titan[/name_m] who was the son of Uranus & [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], brother of Kronus and husband to [name_f]Thea[/name_f].
- Hyrrokkin - F - “fire-withered”
Hyrrokkin belongs to the Norse group of moons, and orbits [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] in an irregular and retrograde fashion. Hyrrokkin was named for giantess in Norse mythology who launched Baldur’s enormous funeral ship with one mighty push when the gods, themselves, were unable to budge it.
- [name_f]Io[/name_f] - F - “violet”
[name_f]Io[/name_f], or [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] I, is the innermost and third-largest of the four Galilean moons of the planet [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u]. It is the most volcanically active world in the solar system, with hundreds of volcanoes, some erupting lava fountains dozens of miles high, making it unsuitable for settlement of life. In mythology, [name_f]Io[/name_f] is a mortal woman transformed into a cow during a marital dispute between [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] and [name_u]Juno[/name_u].
- Iocaste - F - “burning”
Iocaste is a member of the Ananke group, a family of [name_m]Jovian[/name_m] satellites that orbit [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u]. It is colored a similar gray to two other moons in the Ananke family: Praxidike and Harpalyke. Iocaste takes about 632 [name_f]Earth[/name_f] days to complete one orbit. It was named for the mother of Agamedes by the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god, [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u].
- Isonoe - F - “moon”
Alternatively called Isione or Hesione, Isonoe is a retrograde satellite of [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] that belongs to the [name_f]Carme[/name_f] group. The satellite takes about 726 [name_f]Earth[/name_f] days to complete one orbit. Isonoe was named for the mother of Orchomenus by [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]. She also finds mention as one of the 50 daughters of Danaus in Greek legend.
- Kallichore - F - “beautiful in dancing”
Kallichore was named for one of the Muses, who were daughters of [name_m]Zeus[/name_m], the Greek equivalent of the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u]. Her name means “beautiful in dance.” Kallichore is a retrograde satellite of [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] belonging to the [name_f]Carme[/name_f] group.
- Laniakea - F - “immeasurable heaven”
The Laniakea Supercluster is the galaxy supercluster that is home to the Milky [name_m]Way[/name_m] and approximately 100,000 other nearby galaxies. It comes from the Hawaiian word that means “immeasurable heaven,” “open skies” or “wide horizons.” The name honors Polynesian navigators, who used knowledge of the heavens to navigate the [name_m]Pacific[/name_m] [name_u]Ocean[/name_u].
- Laomedeia - F - “ruleress of the people”
Otherwise known as [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] XII, it is a prograde irregular satellite of [name_u]Neptune[/name_u]. Laomedeia, [name_u]Sao[/name_u] and Halimede were discovered through the use of Earth-based telescopes—this was the first time a Neptunian moon discovery had occurred by telescope since the discovery of [name_f]Nereid[/name_f] in 1949 by [name_m]Gerard[/name_m] [name_m]Kuiper[/name_m]. Laomedeia is named after a [name_f]Nereid[/name_f], daughter of [name_m]Nereus[/name_m] & [name_f]Doris[/name_f].
- [name_f]Lysithea[/name_f] - F - “freed by the gods”
[name_f]Lysithea[/name_f] orbits [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] as one of its satellites belonging to the Himalia group. It is second smallest moon of the group. [name_f]Lysithea[/name_f] takes about 259 [name_f]Earth[/name_f] days to complete one orbit. It was named for one of the lovers of [name_m]Zeus[/name_m], and mother of [name_m]Dionysus[/name_m].
- [name_f]Meissa[/name_f] - F - “the shining one”
[name_f]Meissa[/name_f], designated Lambda Orionis, is a multiple stat system in the constellation of [name_u]Orion[/name_u]. It derives from the Arabic Al-Maisan, originally used for Gamma Geminorum but mistakenly applied for Lamda Orionis. The name stuck, and replaced the former Heka, refers to the Arabic lunar mansion that includes this star and the two of Phi Orionis.
- [name_f]Merope[/name_f] - F - “bee-eater bird”
[name_f]Merope[/name_f], designated 23 Tauri, is a star in the constellation of [name_m]Taurus[/name_m] and a member of the Pleiades star cluster. The name is shared by 1051 [name_f]Merope[/name_f], an asteroid from the outermost region of the asteroid belt, also named for the nymph. Many characters from Greek mythology bore this name.
- Mundilfari - M - “the one moving according to particular times”
Mundilfari, or [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] XXV, is a natural satellite of [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] and belongs to the Norse group of satellites. It was discovered by [name_u]Brett[/name_u] J. Gladman and colleagues, who also found seven other Saturnian moons at the same time: Tarvos, Ijiraq, Thrymr, [name_f]Skathi[/name_f], Siarnaq, Erriapus, and Suttungr. It was named for Mundilfari, father of Sól (Sun) and [name_m]Máni[/name_m] (Moon).
- [name_f]Nashira[/name_f] - F - “bearer of good news”
[name_f]Nashira[/name_f], or Gamma Capricorni, is a giant star in the constellation of Capricornus. It is 2.56 degrees south of the ecliptic, so it can be occulted by the moon and very rarely, by planets. The name is derived from Nashirah meaning “the lucky one” or “bearer of good news”.
- Pallene - F - “maiden”
Also referred to as [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] XXXIII, Pallene was found by the Cassini imaging team alongside Methone. Pallene shares its orbit with a faint dust ring around [name_u]Saturn[/name_u], now called the Pallene [name_m]Ring[/name_m]. The name Pallene comes from the name in Greek mythology of one of seven Alkyonides, daughters of the [name_m]Titan[/name_m] Alkyoneus who was born of [name_f]Gaia[/name_f] and the blood of Uranus.
- Pasithea - F - “goddess of all; kind to everybody”
While mostly spelt Pasithee, keeping in line with IAU’s policy for designating outer moons with retrograde orbits, the original variation is Pasithea. Pasithee is a member of the [name_f]Carme[/name_f] group of retrograde satellites that orbit [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u]. Pasithee was named for one of the Graces, who were daughters of [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]. According to Homer’s Iliad, Pasithee was given in marriage to Hypnos by Zeus’ wife, [name_f]Hera[/name_f]. Hypnos received Pasithee’s hand in marriage as a reward for putting [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] to sleep so that [name_f]Hera[/name_f] could help the Greeks in their war against the Trojans.
- [name_m]Pollux[/name_m] - M - “crown”
[name_m]Pollux[/name_m] is the brightest star in the constellation [name_u]Gemini[/name_u], designated [name_f]Beta[/name_f] Geminorum, and the 17th brightest star in the night sky. The name refers to the twins [name_m]Castor[/name_m] and [name_m]Pollux[/name_m] in mythology, both sons of [name_f]Leda[/name_f].
- Praxidike - F - “action of justice”
Praxidike, or [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] XXVII, is a retrograde satellite of [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u], belonging to the Ananke group. It takes about 625 [name_f]Earth[/name_f] days to complete one orbit. Praxidike was named for the Greek goddess of justice or punishment. She was the mother of Klesios, [name_f]Harmonia[/name_f] and [name_f]Arete[/name_f] by [name_m]Zeus[/name_m].
- [name_m]Prospero[/name_m] - M - “prosperous”
[name_m]Prospero[/name_m] is a small, dark, irregular moon that orbits Uranus in the opposite direction from the regular satellites and the rotation of the planet, itself. [name_m]Prospero[/name_m] was named for a sorcerer in [name_u]William[/name_u] Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest.” [name_m]Prospero[/name_m], rightfully [name_u]Duke[/name_u] of [name_u]Milan[/name_u], has his dukedom usurped by his brother [name_m]Antonio[/name_m] with the help of [name_m]Alonso[/name_m], [name_m]King[/name_m] of Naples. He is forced to flee with his daughter [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] to an island in the Mediterranean, where he perfects his magical powers, hoping to use them to regain his dukedom.
- [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] - M - “god of agriculture”
It is sixth planet from the [name_u]Sun[/name_u], and the second-largest after [name_u]Jupiter[/name_u] in the solar system. Saturn’s most notable feature is its rings, composed mainly of billions of small chunks of ice and rock coated with other materials such as dust. Of Saturn’s 83 moons, sixty-three moons are confirmed and named, and another 20 moons are awaiting confirmation of discovery and official naming by the IAU.
- Skrymir - M - “útgarða-loki”
Skrymir, or [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] LVI, is a natural satellite of [name_u]Saturn[/name_u] and belongs to the Norse group. It was officially named after Útgarða-Loki (also known as Skrýmir). He is a jötunn from Norse mythology and a master of illusions.
- [name_f]Styx[/name_f] - U - “the hateful”
[name_f]Styx[/name_f] is a natural satellite of [name_m]Pluto[/name_m], discovered in 2012 by use of the [name_m]Hubble[/name_m] telescope. It is the smallest of the five known moons of [name_m]Pluto[/name_m]. [name_f]Styx[/name_f] is named for the mythological river that separates the world of the living from the realm of the dead. All of Pluto’s moons are named for mythological figures associated with the underworld.
- [name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] - F - “sea”
[name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] is the second-innermost satellite of [name_u]Neptune[/name_u]. [name_f]Thalassa[/name_f], like [name_f]Naiad[/name_f], most likely formed from fragments of Neptune’s original moons, which were smashed by the disturbances caused when the ice giant [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] captured [name_m]Triton[/name_m]. [name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] was named after a daughter of Aether and [name_f]Hemera[/name_f] from Greek mythology. [name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] is also the Greek word for sea.
- [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] - F - “bear”
[name_f]Ursa[/name_f] - meaning bear - lends its name to two constellations: [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Major[/name_m] (the big bear) and [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Minor[/name_m] (the little bear). [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Major[/name_m] is best known as the home of the Big [name_m]Dipper[/name_m]. Two of the constellation’s stars, Dubhe and Merak, are called the pointers because the line Merak-Dubhe points to the Pole Star.By far the most important and famous star in [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Minor[/name_m] is the [name_u]North[/name_u] or Pole [name_f]Star[/name_f], known as [name_u]Polaris[/name_u]. This is the star at the very end of the bear’s long tail.
- Vindemiatrix - F - “female wine harvester”
Vindemiatrix, also known as Epsilon Virginis, is the third-brightest star in Virgo, shining at mag. +2.8. Located 110 lightyears away, it marks the eastern lip of the large semi-circular pattern known as the ‘Bowl of Virgo’, which is visible in spring. First morning visibility was a sign it was time to pick the grapes.
We’ve reached the end! I had a lot of fun with making this series. I do plan on having a third installment of this series, as I said before, with names of people in the field of astronomy. It will be a long time before I actually do so, since I’m exhausted with all the research work I’ve had to do. But I am inspired! I may continue this series with other themes (say: flowers).
Anyways, which ones were your favourites from these? Are there any names, of stars, planets, and moons that you’d like to add? Let me know! Thank you for reading.
, [name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] and [name_f]Ursa[/name_f]!