The Moon......why?
Discussion
Sensible answer.
Our moon is called THE moon because it was the first moon we were aware of.
We have known about our moon since the dawn of humanity i.e. perhaps 1 million years ago. OK, we may not have truly understood what the moon really was i.e. an object in space, until perhaps 2,000 years ago - but we certainly were aware it was there.
The first "moon" of another planet was not discovered until 1610, when Galileo pointed his first crude telescope at Jupiter and realised that he could see four small objects orbiting that planet. He immediately realised that at least one other planet had "moons" of its own and eventually they were given names from classical mythology.
As telescopes improved, dozens of moons were eventually found orbiting many of the planets, and they were all given their own names.
Our moon is called THE moon because it was the first moon we were aware of.
We have known about our moon since the dawn of humanity i.e. perhaps 1 million years ago. OK, we may not have truly understood what the moon really was i.e. an object in space, until perhaps 2,000 years ago - but we certainly were aware it was there.
The first "moon" of another planet was not discovered until 1610, when Galileo pointed his first crude telescope at Jupiter and realised that he could see four small objects orbiting that planet. He immediately realised that at least one other planet had "moons" of its own and eventually they were given names from classical mythology.
As telescopes improved, dozens of moons were eventually found orbiting many of the planets, and they were all given their own names.
Simpo Two said:
Tim330 said:
it's a space station (that is not me)
That looks like a large dead one-eyed Zippy from Rainbow...I'm partial to this exhaustive 23 episode documentary all about the moon; it's got everything, even the secret nazi moonbase.
Edited by hidetheelephants on Wednesday 16th May 23:17
Einion Yrth said:
Eric Mc said:
Whch we could call "Terra", La Monde" or "Geos" if we wanted to.
Or, indeed, Keith... if we wanted to. 
Although with hundreds of new planets being discovered on a regular basis, I expect a Planet Keith will be named some day.
Simpo Two said:
LordGrover said:
What do foreign johnnies call 1. our Moon and 2. other moons?
Do they use the same name/term for both?
It's the same as a Hoover made by Hoover, and 'hoover' as a generic term. Or Biro vs biro.Do they use the same name/term for both?
Admittedly Mr Biro was a "Johnny Foreigner"......
LordGrover said:
What do foreign johnnies call 1. our Moon and 2. other moons?
Do they use the same name/term for both?
French - La LuneDo they use the same name/term for both?
Italian - luna
Spanish - la luna
Latin - luna
Ancient Greek - selene
German - mond
Irish/Gaelic - Gealach
When they started being discovered in the 17th century, the moons of other planets were given names from classical mythology (in keeping with the names of the planets themselves) - so they are either based on Ancient Greek or Roman gods, godesses or characters associated with ancient myths and legends - Titan, Triton, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Phobos, Deimos etc.
Because these are "classical" names they are used by everybody, no matter what their modern language is.
Eric Mc said:
French - La Lune
Italian - luna
Spanish - la luna
Latin - luna
Ancient Greek - selene
German - mond
Irish/Gaelic - Gealach
When they started being discovered in the 17th century, thes moons of other planets were given names from classical mythology - so they are either based on Ancient Greek or Roman gods, godesses or characters associated with ancient myths and legends - Titan, Triton, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Phobos, Deimos etc.
Because these are "classical" names they are used by everybody, no matter what their modern language is.
Ta.Italian - luna
Spanish - la luna
Latin - luna
Ancient Greek - selene
German - mond
Irish/Gaelic - Gealach
When they started being discovered in the 17th century, thes moons of other planets were given names from classical mythology - so they are either based on Ancient Greek or Roman gods, godesses or characters associated with ancient myths and legends - Titan, Triton, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Phobos, Deimos etc.
Because these are "classical" names they are used by everybody, no matter what their modern language is.
But do the Spanish, for example, refer to io as 'la luna' of Jupiter or do they have another 'generic' term for what we call moons in English?
LordGrover said:
Ta.
But do the Spanish, for example, refer to io as 'la luna' of Jupiter or do they have another 'generic' term for what we call moons in English?
You mean does a satellite to a planet get called the same as the earth's satellite: moon, Moon, or have a different word? As far as I understand italian (currently studying) you would probably say "moons of XXX" "lune" and this probably goes for all romantic languages........ But no doubt someone will correct me.But do the Spanish, for example, refer to io as 'la luna' of Jupiter or do they have another 'generic' term for what we call moons in English?
LordGrover said:
Eric Mc said:
French - La Lune
Italian - luna
Spanish - la luna
Latin - luna
Ancient Greek - selene
German - mond
Irish/Gaelic - Gealach
When they started being discovered in the 17th century, thes moons of other planets were given names from classical mythology - so they are either based on Ancient Greek or Roman gods, godesses or characters associated with ancient myths and legends - Titan, Triton, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Phobos, Deimos etc.
Because these are "classical" names they are used by everybody, no matter what their modern language is.
Ta.Italian - luna
Spanish - la luna
Latin - luna
Ancient Greek - selene
German - mond
Irish/Gaelic - Gealach
When they started being discovered in the 17th century, thes moons of other planets were given names from classical mythology - so they are either based on Ancient Greek or Roman gods, godesses or characters associated with ancient myths and legends - Titan, Triton, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Phobos, Deimos etc.
Because these are "classical" names they are used by everybody, no matter what their modern language is.
But do the Spanish, for example, refer to io as 'la luna' of Jupiter or do they have another 'generic' term for what we call moons in English?
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