NEWS – The landing site of India’s Chandrayaan 3’s moon lander, named Shiv Shakti, received international recognition from the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature

HIGHLIGHTS

• Planetary nomenclature, akin to terrestrial naming, uniquely identifies features on celestial bodies for easy reference and discussion.
• The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature catalogues approved names of topographic features on planets and satellites since the IAU’s founding in 1919.
• The IAU, recognized globally, follows Rule 9, prohibiting names with political, military, or religious significance unless they refer to pre-19th century political figures.
• “Statio Shiv Shakti” derives from Indian mythology, symbolizing the masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) duality of nature.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced “Shiv Shakti” as the name for Chandrayaan-3’s moon lander touch-down point, highlighting its significance for humanity’s welfare and strength.

PLANETARY SYSTEM NOMENCLATURE

Purpose of Planetary Nomenclature

• Unique Identification: Used to uniquely identify features on planetary surfaces.
• Facilitates Communication: Helps in locating, describing, and discussing planetary features.
• Maintained by IAU: Managed and approved by the International Astronomical Union.

Gazetteer Contents

• Detailed Information: Contains detailed data about topographic and albedo features.
• Includes Planetary Systems: Covers planets, satellites, and some planetary ring systems.
• Historical Perspective: Dates back to IAU’s founding in 1919, including all approved names to the present time.

Evolution and Superseding Volumes

• Evolution of Gazetteer: Describes the transition from earlier informal volumes to the current edition.
• Supersedes Previous Versions: Replaces volumes like Open-File Report 84-692 and USGS Bulletin 2129.

Depiction on Maps

• Mapping Agencies: Depicted on maps by various agencies like USGS, U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), and Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC).
• Coverage of Bodies: Includes maps of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.