every other planet in our solar system has named moons... if any, what is our moon's name?
2007-02-22 08:42:15 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hi. Glad you asked this question, because so many
people just don't get it...
Our moon is called the Moon (with a capital "M").
Just as our star, the Sun is named with a capital "S."
These capitals denote our particular solar system's objects as opposed to some other ones associated with another planet or another solar system.
Same thing goes for our Galaxy (Capital "G") to distinguish it from other galaxies in outer space.
2007-02-22 09:08:03 · answer #1 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like Earth, which takes its name from the word for soil, and our galaxy, which takes the name for what it was thought to be in mithology (galaxy means "milk" in Greek, hence Milky Way...) the Moon was called that from a time where no other moons were thought to exist. So, it has the generic name as a proper designation, however silly this may sound. Which, when you really consider it, is somewhat the other way around. When moons were found around other planets, they could have been called "satellites" of those planest, instead of "moons" which was until then applicable only to the one orbiting Earth.
2007-02-22 08:51:40 · answer #2 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - it's called Moon, not 'The moon' but just 'Moon'. It's a corruption of Mona.
The Romans called it Luna which is where the word lunar comes from and was the name given to the Soviet spaceship that first visited Moon.
To avoid confusion perhaps it should be renamed - any suggestions?
2007-02-22 15:03:24 · answer #3 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has also been called Selene. Hence the term Selenites (Moon Beings) from the novel The First Men In The Moon by H.G. Wells
2007-02-22 11:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by John J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luna as some people say just means moon.
Its called The Moon since it was the first satellite we ever knew about.
Just as our own star doesnt have a name beyond The Sun.
2007-02-22 08:49:47 · answer #5 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moons name is typically refered to as Luna. Just as our sun is called Sol.
2007-02-22 08:58:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's both Luna and Moon.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/faq/index.cfm?Category=Moon
2007-02-22 09:19:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Moon - planet next to Earth"
2007-02-22 08:50:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the latin name of our moon is Luna. Which is why we say "lunar eclipse" etc., BQ2: Walkin On The Moon--Tom Russell
2016-05-23 23:51:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the "Moon". Written with an upper case M.
2007-02-22 08:46:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋