When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon for the first time, Neil Armstrong famously announced, “Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.” NASA chose the name Tranquility Base for this historic site, located in the southwestern part of a lunar plain called Mare Tranquillitatis, or the “Sea of Tranquility.” This is just one of many names given to places on the Moon. But who decides on these names, and are they official?
In 1610, Galileo used one of the first telescopes to create detailed drawings of the Moon. Although he made the first map of the Moon, he didn’t name any places on it. About 40 years later, astronomers Riccioli and Grimaldi made a new map, dividing the Moon into sections and naming features like ‘Tranquility’ and ‘Serenity.’ This map became the foundation for naming lunar features, and many names from it are still used today.
In 1959, the Soviet Union sent a probe to the far side of the Moon, capturing images of areas never seen before. They began naming features after Russian heroes and places. During the next decade, both the United States and the Soviet Union took better images of the Moon and continued naming new features. Although NASA often gives informal names to lunar features, they don’t have the power to make them official. That authority belongs to the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Anyone can suggest a name for a lunar feature to the IAU, but there are specific rules. Most craters must be named after deceased scientists or explorers who made significant contributions. Large plains on the Moon get Latin names that describe concepts like weather. Ridges are named after geoscientists. The size of a feature doesn’t always match the fame of the person it’s named after. For example, Copernicus and Archimedes have large craters named after them, while Galileo and Newton have smaller features.
In 1970, the IAU named one of the Moon’s largest craters ‘Apollo,’ and smaller craters within it were named after astronauts from the Apollo missions. Nearby craters were named after deceased NASA employees, including the crew of Apollo 1 and the Space Shuttle disasters.
These names might not be well-known now, but in the future, when space travel becomes common, places like Apollo, Borman, and Lovell could be as familiar as New York, Paris, and Tokyo.
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Using a blank map of the Moon, label the major features discussed in the article, such as Mare Tranquillitatis and the Apollo craters. Then, come up with your own names for some unnamed features, following the IAU’s naming conventions. Share your map with the class and explain your naming choices.
Choose a lunar feature named after a scientist or explorer, such as Copernicus or Archimedes. Research their contributions to science and prepare a short presentation for the class. Explain why you think they were honored with a lunar feature named after them.
Divide into groups and hold a debate on whether the current naming conventions for lunar features are fair and appropriate. Consider the importance of international representation and the recognition of modern scientists. Present your arguments and vote on potential changes to the naming process.
Create an artistic representation of a lunar feature, such as a crater or plain, using materials of your choice (e.g., clay, paint, or digital tools). Include a brief description of the feature and its significance. Display your artwork in the classroom for a gallery walk.
Write a short story set in a future where lunar travel is common. Use real lunar features and their names as settings in your story. Imagine how these places might be used or inhabited in the future, and share your story with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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This is Apollo 11, landing on the Moon for the first time in human history. Just a few seconds after touchdown, Neil Armstrong said, “Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.” Tranquility Base was the name that NASA chose for the site of the first Moon landing. It’s located in the southwestern corner of the lunar plain called Mare Tranquillitatis, or “Sea of Tranquility.” This is just one out of thousands of names that have been given to geographical features on the Moon.
But who is in charge of coming up with these names? And are they official? In this video, we’re going to look at how we began naming features on the Moon. We’ll also explore who’s responsible for making these names official and the strict rules around naming a place on the Moon.
In the year 1610, Galileo released his famous drawings of the Moon. Looking through one of the world’s very first telescopes, he studied the Moon closely and produced drawings that accurately represented the Moon’s harsh features in a way that had never been seen before. Although Galileo had essentially created the very first map of the Moon, there were no place names on this map.
Forty years later, a new map of the Moon was created by astronomers Riccioli and Grimaldi. This map divided the Moon into eight sections, and names like ‘Tranquility’ and ‘Serenity’ were given to the great mountains and flat plains that lay in between. This map quickly became the basis for naming the Moon’s features, and many of the original names are still used today.
Fast forward a few centuries to the birth of spaceflight. In 1959, the Soviets became the first to send a probe to the far side of the Moon. This probe successfully imaged the side of the Moon that had never been seen before by humans. With this new perspective of the Moon’s hidden surface, the Soviets began naming features after Russian heroes and place names.
Over the next decade, America and the Soviets pieced together higher quality images of the far side of the Moon while continuing to name newly found features. Although NASA often informally names features on the Moon, they don’t have the authority to officially assign names to lunar features. When naming features on other planetary bodies, each name must be accepted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
However, it’s not just NASA that can suggest names; anyone can submit a name to the IAU as long as it complies with their specific guidelines. Almost all craters on the Moon must be named after deceased scientists or explorers who have made significant contributions to their fields. The large plains that are common on the Moon must be given Latin names that describe concepts like weather and other abstract ideas. Ridges found on the Moon have to be named specifically after geoscientists.
Although these names must be attached to significant people within the science community, the scale of a lunar feature doesn’t necessarily reflect who it’s named after. Copernicus and Archimedes both have their names attached to large craters, whereas other science legends like Galileo and Newton were given features that are much less prominent.
In 1970, the IAU agreed to name one of the widest craters on the Moon ‘Apollo,’ and smaller craters within Apollo were named after astronauts from the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions. Nearby craters were later named after deceased NASA employees, including the lost crew of Apollo 1 and the two Space Shuttle disasters.
So although these names might not be familiar to us now, in the future, when space tourism is a reality, places like Apollo, Borman, and Lovell might be as common to us as New York, Paris, and Tokyo.
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This version maintains the original content while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Moon – The natural satellite of Earth, visible by reflected light from the Sun. – The moon has been a subject of fascination and study throughout human history.
Names – Designations or titles given to celestial bodies or features for identification. – Many of the craters on the moon have names that honor famous scientists and explorers.
Features – Distinctive attributes or aspects of a celestial body, such as mountains or valleys. – The moon’s surface is covered with features like craters and maria, which are large, dark plains.
Astronauts – Individuals trained to travel and perform tasks in space. – The astronauts on the Apollo missions conducted experiments and collected samples from the moon’s surface.
Exploration – The act of traveling through or investigating an unfamiliar area, often for scientific research. – Space exploration has expanded our understanding of the solar system and beyond.
Craters – Round depressions on the surface of a planet or moon, typically caused by meteorite impacts. – The moon’s surface is dotted with craters formed by ancient collisions with asteroids and comets.
Mapping – The process of creating a visual representation of an area, including its features and layout. – Mapping the surface of the moon has helped scientists plan future missions and study its geology.
Authority – An organization or body that has control or power over a particular area or subject. – NASA is the authority responsible for the United States’ space exploration efforts.
Union – A group of states or entities that come together for a common purpose. – The European Space Agency is a union of countries working together on space exploration projects.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of astronomy reveals how our understanding of the universe has evolved over centuries.
