Why do new planets get such stupid names?

Question

The newest planet found 20 light years from us is going to be named Gliese 581 C. Who comes up with these names?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18293978/

Answer 1

That planet is orbiting a small star that cannot be seen without a telescope, so it is referred to by catalog number. The star is called Gliese 581 because it is star number 581 in the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars. I think the C means it is the 3rd (as in a=1, b=2, c=3) object associated with that star. There are millions of stars, and only a few hundred important ones even have a name. All the others are just referred to by catalog number. Some day, that star may get a real name. If it turns out to really be an inhabitable planet I bet it will get a real name.

Answer 2

In ancient times, only the Sun and Moon, a few hundred stars and the most easily visible planets had names. Over the last few hundred years, the number of identified astronomical objects has risen from hundreds to over a billion, and more are discovered every year.

Astronomers need to be able to assign systematic designations to unambiguously identify all of these objects, and at the same time give names to the most interesting objects and, where relevant, features of those objects.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the major body recognized by astronomers worldwide as the naming authority for astronomical bodies. In response to the need for unambiguous names for astronomical objects, it has created a number of systematic naming systems for bodies of various sorts.

As regards exoplanets some of the brightest stars have names but most have catalogue numbers and exoplanet names add an extension.

A star name followed by a lower case a is the star itself.

A star name followed by a lower case b is the first exoplanet found orbiting that star.

Gliese 581 b is a Neptune sized outer planet found in 2005, too cold to be habitable.

A star name followed by a lower case c is the second exoplanet found orbiting that star.

Gliese 581 c found 2 days ago is the second exoplanet found orbiting Gliese 581

A star name followed by an upper case A is a star not a planet, the brighter of a binary or trinary system of stars orbiting one another. Polaris A is a star. Polaris B is a dimmer star. Polaris A b would be a planet of Polaris A and Polaris B b would be a planet of Polaris B.

Read the link to get the hang of how it works.

The names are not stupid, they are simply unfamiliar. They are systematic so as to help to find an oblect in an index on a map or in a catalogue. Ever used the Dewey Decimal System in a Library? The logic is similar.

Answer 3

The Planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn we didn't name, the Greeks and Romans did thousands of years ago after their Gods and Goddesses. Since those planets already have Roman and Greek names, its just sort of a tradition now for scientists to name newly discovered planets after Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses.

Answer 4

Scientific convention. It's a celestial body catalog. Named after the man who compiled it. It lists nearby stars.

Answer 5

Because the planets were named by Greek/Roman astronomers, not Christians. - Pastor Rob

Answer 6

Its scientifically cataloged man. You dont actually NAME it until you GET there and Register it with the Agency that is in charge of it.

Answer 7

You'd think they'd hit the Greek or Roman pantheon again, at least.

I'm hoping they'll rename it Persei Omicron 8, or "Jeff".

Answer 8

Saturn to Earth, Saturn to Earth.. quit naming that stupid car after us.

Answer 9

Lets bring back Pluto.

Answer 10

Mostly because we let the scientist`s name them.