What is the Name our Moon?

[geoschmo]

It is Luna. Calling our moon "The Moon" is the same thing as calling our sun, Sol, "The Sun". It's not technically incorrect, but it's not actually scientifically specific. The identity of the moon in question depends on the context. As long as we are all on earth, "The Moon" will do, but if you ever go to Jupiter, asking for a cab ride to "The Moon" will probably get you a response, "Which moon buddy?"

It's like saying, "Let's go to The Mall." As long as everybody knows which shoppong mall you are talking about, you don't have to be more specific, but that's not really it's name.

"Lunar surface" simply means the surface of Luna. Calling the surface of other moons the lunar surface is not technically correct, although I have no doubt some will do it when we get to the point where we are dealing with the surfaces of other moons.

[ January 27, 2004, 11:21: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[JurijD]

Actually you�re overly english-centrical guys. Our moon is simply called "The Moon".

"Luna" is the slavic (slovenian, croatian, serbian, polish, chech, slovak, russian, bulgarian etc. etc) (probably originates from latin or greek) word for Moon. So even if you say our "Moon" is named "Luna" that can only make sense if you are an english speaking person.
We call for instance Deimos a "Luna" of Mars.
To us its the same if you call it "Moon" or Luna.

And callion our sun "Sol" would be equaly funny as your english word "Sun" is just a translation of the roman/latin word "Sol" (or "Sonce" in most slavic Languages)

[ January 27, 2004, 11:32: Message edited by: JurijD ]

[dogscoff]

That would be like naming your cat, CAT

Or your snarf, SNARF.

Whatever the official or scientific names, in sci-fi where our moon is colonised it is very often referred to as Luna, and the sun as Sol. When reality eventually catches up with sci-fi, I very strongly suspect that those names will become the official ones. The evolution of language before our very eyes...

[Rollo]

Good points, Geo, and I agree. Still it doesn't change the fact that Luna just means Moon in Latin. So, while calling it Luna is indeed scientificly correct, you are still calling it moon.

I vote for Bob.

[Rollo]

BTW, one thing I always found interesting is the fact that in latin Languages the Moon is female and the Sun is male. In germanic Languages it is the other way around.

What's your view on this? (and how about some more examples from other Languages and parts of the world)

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Rollo:
Good points, Geo, and I agree. Still it doesn't change the fact that Luna just means Moon in Latin. So, while calling it Luna is indeed scientificly correct, you are still calling it moon.

I vote for Bob.

Actually, in doing a little research I cannot find anywhere that gives an official scientific designation to our moon. Which seems kind of odd to me, since scientist guys are always going around naming stuff.

So perhaps I was mistaken and there is no officially accepted name. In that case Bob is as good as anything else.

Feel free to call me ignorant, just don't call me "english-centric".

[Cheeze]

That's just silly. Everyone knows that Earth 2 is named Bob, so we can't name the Moon the same. How about Bill?

Originally posted by dogscoff:
That would be like naming your cat, CAT

Hey, John Wayne could name his dog DOG. If it was good enough for the Duke, it's good enough for me.

I plan to have a dog with the name STAY.

[ January 27, 2004, 13:35: Message edited by: Cheeze ]

[gregebowman]

One interesting little fact about hte moon and/or luna, is that the word lunatic comes from people who were acting strange during a full moon. I think this was during the 1600's or 1700's, and it might have been in England. I don't recall all of the circumstances now, but since the word lunatic came from the moon, I guess it would provide proof that the offical name back then was Luna.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by Rollo:
BTW, one thing I always found interesting is the fact that in latin Languages the Moon is female and the Sun is male. In germanic Languages it is the other way around.

What's your view on this? (and how about some more examples from other Languages and parts of the world)

It has to do with the gender of the gods associated with the sun and moon in Roman/Greek and Norse mythologies.

[General Woundwort]

Originally posted by Cheeze:
Hey, John Wayne could name his dog DOG. If it was good enough for the Duke, it's good enough for me.

I plan to have a dog with the name STAY.

My JH english teacher had a dog, named "Spot". Yeah, pretty unoriginal, except he used to call out whenever he let it out of the house, "Out, out, damned Spot!"

{this is not a joke.}