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NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Naming Planets and Moons 
Name: j gordon
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1993 - 1999
Question:
How do scientists give names to the moons of the planets?

Replies:
The planets were named long ago after various important Greek and Roman gods (Mars being the god of war, for example). The moons are generally named after minor gods that happen to be associated with those major ones.

A Smith


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