Why do the moons of all other planets have names and the earths moon is just called moon?

Answer 1

Moon (pronoun) The earth's natural satellite, orbiting the earth at a mean distance of 238,857 miles (384,393 km) and having a diameter of 2160 miles (3476 km)

moon (noun)
Any planetary satellite: the moons of Jupiter.

The Moon was the only "moon" or natural satellite known to mankind before the invention of the telescope.

When Galileo observed the four major satellites of Jupiter, they were the first additional "moons" that were discovered.

So originally the "Moon" was the only "moon"
additional "moons" were discovered much later.

So when you see the word capitalized as "Moon", it refers to the earth's Moon.

When you see it all lowercase, "moon", it is just another word for a natural satellite that revolves around a planet other than the Earth

Matthew Ota
Mount Wilson Observatory
Orange County Astronomers

Answer 2

The Greeks called it Selene, from which the Latins got Luna (they dropped the first syllable). However, astronomers rarely use anything other than Moon (with a capital M). One day, I jokingly proposed that since our sun is called Sun and our moon is called Moon, then our own planet should be called Planet. Names of planets come from Greek mythology, although we have adopted the Latinized version of the names of the Greek gods for which they were named: Helios = Appolo (Sun-god) Hermes = Mercury Aphrodite = Venus Gaia = Terra Selene = Luna Ares = Mars Zeus = Jupiter Chronos = Saturn Names of satellites were taken from Greek mythology (except for the satellites of Uranus, taken from English litterature). We got stuck with "Moon", which gives us "month" (the period taken for the Moon to go through its phases). If we were to "rename" the Moon, I think we should follow tradition (the Latinized name of the associated Greek goddess) and use Luna.

Answer 3

I could be wrong, but planets have satellites, and ours is called The Moon. The Moon has no formal English name, although it is occasionally called Luna (Latin for "moon") to distinguish it from the generic "moon".

Over the years, we've just begun to call *every* planet's satellite "a moon".

Answer 4

The practice of giving names to moons that orbit other planets started when it was discovered that some of the other planets had more then one moon. Instead of saying moon 1, moon 2, it was much more practical to give them names.

Answer 5

The International Astronomical Union governs the naming of objects in the solar system. All moons take their names from ancient deities and mythology. Of course, there are as many names for the Moon as their are languages. The Romans called Earth's companion Diana, the goddess of the hunt. The Greeks associated it with Artemis. But today, names like Hold (Hungarian), Kuu (Finnish), Luna (Russian), Kora (Hebrew) and Moon (English) are used.

Answer 6

Because we only have one moon, and we've known about it for hundreds of thousands of years. We don't need a name, since everyone knows what we mean when we say "the moon" (same as the sun, everyone knows what we mean when we say "the sun").
But the moon has been given 'names' in the past, based on gods or goddesses in mythology: Selene, Luna, Artemis, Diana, and Bendis.

Answer 7

The moon does have a name,its called the moon....let me rephrase it...Earths natural satellite does have a name,its called the moon.The other planets satellites have their names too,just as you mentioned

Answer 8

Virtually every primitive culture had a Sun God and a Moon Goddess, some had several. The Greeks had five; the Romans had two. Luna is simply a Roman goddess, like Venus was (and Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn were Roman Gods). The name of the lunar deity was the name of the Moon in that culture.

List of Lunar Deities

Ainu mythology: Chup Kamui
Akkadian mythology: Sin (Sumerian: Suen). This name was corrupted to Enzu
Arabian mythology: Illat, Hilal, Hubal, Sin, Ta'lab, Wadd
Aztec mythology: Coyolxauhqui, Metztli,
Tecciztecatl
Babylonian mythology: Sin

Basque mythology: Ilazki
Cahuilla mythology: Menily
Canaanite mythology: Jarih, Nikkal
Celtic mythology: Góntia, Lair báln
Chibcha mythology: Chia, Chie

Chinese mythology: Chang'e or Heng O. Dahomean mythology: Gleti
Elamite mythology: Napir
Egyptian mythology: Chons, Thoth
Etruscan mythology: Losna

Greek mythology: Artemis, Hecate, Phoebe, Selene, Rhea
Hattic mythology: Kaskuh
Hindu mythology: Anumati, Chandra (Indu),
Ramachandra, Shiva, Soma
Hurrian mythology: Kusuh
Incan mythology: Coniraya, Ka-Ata-Killa, Mama Quilla

Indonesian mythology: Dewi Shri, Silewe Nazarate
Inuit mythology: Alignak, Igaluk, Tarquiup Inua
Japanese mythology: Marishi-Ten, Tsukuyomi
Kachin mythology: Shitta
Latvian mythology: Meness

Mandjindja mythology: Kidili
Maya mythology: Ahau-Kin, Ixbalanque,
Ixchel
Mochican mythology: Si
Navaho mythology: Yoołgai asdząąn
Norse mythology: Mani

Orokolo mythology: Papare
Palmarene mythology: Aglibol
Pawnee mythology: Pah
Persian mythology: Mah
Philippine mythology: Mayari

Phrygian mythology: Men
Polynesian mythology: Avatea, Fati, Ina, Hina-Kega, Hina-Uri, Lona, Mahina, Marama, Sina, Ul
Pygmy mythology: Arebati
Roman mythology: Diana, Luna
Semitic mythology: Terah

Seran mythology: Dapie
Slavic mythology: Myesyats
Sumerian mythology: Nanna (Suen)
Sumu mythology: Udó
Thracian mythology: Bendis

Tupinamba mythology: Ari
Urartian mythology: Selardi, Vodun, Kalfu

So now you know!

Answer 9

Earth's moon sort of has a name, "Luna." Yes, it basically means moon, but it's at least a bit more interesting.

Answer 10

It is pretty well understood that only earthlings give names and if you call something moon, it must mean the moon of these earthlings.