2007-12-04 07:34:27 · 10 answers · asked by Watch it bub! 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Since we only have 1 moon, there is no need for any other name.
2007-12-04 07:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Earth is a rock, it can't do anything. It is the people of Earth who named (or didn't bother to name) the Moon. Because there is only 1 in our sky. Just like the Sun, there is only 1. But there are several planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can all be seen without a telescope, so the people gave each one a name. But there was only 1 Moon that people knew about (until Galileo saw 4 more Moons at Jupiter) so it didn't need a name as far as they were concerned. Just like there is only 1 sky so it doesn't need a name but there are many oceans so they need names.
2007-12-04 15:43:01 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Moon was called the Moon long before it was discovered that other planets had moons. The satellites of the other planets were called moons too because they orbited their parent planets just like our Moon orbits Earth.
2007-12-04 15:40:00 · answer #3 · answered by Nature Boy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Language words very often mean something very definite, and the way words are used can distinguish one thing from another.
Until someone saw natural satellites of another planet Moon was the only natural satellite known. In English, these other natural satellites were also called "moons" (note the lack of a capital letter) to show that they, like Moon, orbited a planet. They could also have been called "satellites" but English speakers prefer short words, preferably Anglo-Saxon in origin.
To further distinguish our satellite form the other satellites like Triton, Phobos and Io, English speakers took to putting a definite article in front of the name.
2007-12-04 15:54:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before mankind knew that there were any other moons they called it the moon. As others were discovered they named them using names from Greek and Roman mythology. Scientists lately have been saying that because our moon is so large in proportion to Earth that the pair could possibly constitute a double planetary system.
2007-12-04 15:44:00 · answer #5 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you kidding? The moon is THE ORIGINAL. Before we knew the other planets even **had** moons, ours was the FIRST. To give it another name (we had to name the other moons) would be to lower it's status. We have *THE* moon.
2007-12-04 15:38:11 · answer #6 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Actually the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun have very regular names. Or maybe because it's used too much that it become very regular names.
To make it fancy though, astronomers and Sci-Fi fans regulary use Latin names like Terra, Luna, and Sol.
2007-12-04 22:21:05 · answer #7 · answered by E A C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets not start an interplanetary war here. What if the other guys already named their moon The Moon? We might have a trademark violation case here.
2007-12-04 16:21:48 · answer #8 · answered by jim m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really actually noticed that.
Yeah, the name is quite boring.
Why don't we name our moon something else?
2007-12-05 04:56:55 · answer #9 · answered by Minh V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it needs re-branding: "moon" is so yesterday....
How about George Foreman Tide-o-Matic?
2007-12-04 17:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by Chris 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋