Turkish names in space
This is a list of astronomical objects officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) whose names originate from Anatolian culture, geography, history, and the Turkish language.[1][2][3]
Asteroids
Asteroid designations are official numerical identifiers assigned by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) after an asteroid's orbit has been determined with sufficient precision. The numbering system follows the chronological order of official recognition, and the table below lists asteroids with names of Anatolian and Turkish origin.[1][2]
Craters
The impact craters officially named after Anatolian and Turkish cultural and geographical elements are listed below.[3]
| Crater | Namesake / Origin | Celestial Body |
|---|---|---|
| Atatürk (unofficially)[note 1] | M.K.Atatürk | Moon |
| Osman | Turkish masculine name | |
| Berkel | Sabri Berkel | Mercury |
| Sinan | Mimar Sinan | |
| Ustad Isa | Ustad Isa[note 2] | |
| Adivar | Halide Edib Adıvar | Venus |
| Guzel | Turkish first name | |
| Khatun | Mihri Hatun | |
| Bozkir | Bozkır, Konya | Mars |
| Can | Çan, Çanakkale | |
| Hashir | Pervari, Siirt (old name) | |
| Mut | Mut, Mersin | |
| Sinop | Sinop | |
| Tarsus | Tarsus, Mersin | |
| Zir | Zir, Osmaniye, Sincan, Ankara | |
| Yalova | Yalova | 951 Gaspra |
| Erlik | Erlik | Callisto |
| Tulpar | Tulpar | Rhea |
| Nasreddin | Nasreddin Hodja | Charon |
Other Surface Features
Other planetary surface features officially named after Anatolian and Turkish cultural and geographical elements are listed below.[3]
| Feature | Feature Type | Namesake / Origin | Celestial Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mons Argaeus | Mons | Mount Erciyes | Moon |
| Montes Taurus | Taurus Mountains | ||
| Selen Rupes | Rupes | RV MTA Selen | Mercury |
| Ak-Ene Corona | Corona | Ak Ana "White Mother" | Venus |
| Otygen Corona | Etugen Ana "Mother Earth" | ||
| Su-Anasy Corona | Su Ana "Mother of Water" | ||
| Umay-ene Corona | Umay Ana "Goddess of Fertility" | ||
| Cebrenia | Albedo feature | Cebrenia | Mars |
| Chersonesus | Gallipoli | ||
| Chrysokeras | Golden Horn | ||
| Hellespontus | Dardanelles | ||
| Propontis | Sea of Marmara | ||
| Gediz Vallis | Vallis | Gediz River | |
| Granicus Valles | Biga River | ||
| Hermus Vallis[note 3] | Gediz River | ||
| Sakarya Vallis | Sakarya River | ||
| Scamander Vallis | Karamenderes River | ||
| Harran Sulci | Sulcus | Harran, Şanlıurfa | Enceladus |
| Van Lacus | Lacus | Lake Van | Titan |
| Piri Rupes | Rupes | Piri Reis | Pluto |
Stars and Exoplanets
The star and exoplanet named after Anatolian and Turkish culture through the International Astronomical Union (IAU) campaign are listed below.[5][6][7]
| Official IAU Name | Scientific Designation | Object Type | Constellation | Galaxy | Namesake / Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatolia | WASP-52 | Star | Pegasus | Milky Way | Anatolia |
| Göktürk | WASP-52b | Exoplanet | Göktürks |
References
- 1 2 Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPNames.html
- 1 2 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/
- 1 2 3 USGS Astrogeology Science Center. https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/
- ↑ https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/blower-i.html
- ↑ https://iau.org
- ↑ https://iauarchive.eso.org/public/themes/naming_stars/
- ↑ https://wasp-planets.net/2020/01/
Notes
- ↑ In the lunar atlas The Moon by H. P. Wilkins and P. Moore, this crater—now designated Römer A—was referred to as “Atatürk” in reference to the nearby Montes Taurus. However, because the International Astronomical Union (IAU) does not permit the naming of lunar features after modern political figures, the name was never officially adopted.
- ↑ Turkish/Persian architect (17th century).
- ↑ Gediz Vallis and Hermus Vallis on Mars are named after the Gediz River in Turkey; Hermus is the ancient Latin name of the same river.