The Moon......why?

[Einion Yrth]

Eric Mc said:

Indeed, the word "satellite" actually means "hanger on" or "companion" in Ancient Greek.

... and "sputnik" is Russian for "fellow traveller".

[Eric Mc]

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

Indeed, the word "satellite" actually means "hanger on" or "companion" in Ancient Greek.

... and "sputnik" is Russian for "fellow traveller".

in other words - satellite.

[hidetheelephants]

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

Indeed, the word "satellite" actually means "hanger on" or "companion" in Ancient Greek.

... and "sputnik" is Russian for "fellow traveller".

Completely OT, that explains why 'fellow traveller' is a euphemism for 'commie pinko spy'; I have read it many times and wondered what the derivation was.

[Simpo Two]

Wait a minute - if moon means satellite which means hanger-on which means fellow traveller, then the moon is a gyppo...





Actually....

'gypsy moon' rings a bell but doesn't come up on Google - harvest moon?

[qube_TA]

I thought that there was only one Moon, the rest are 'natural satellites'

[Eric Mc]

qube_TA said:

I thought that there was only one Moon, the rest are 'natural satellites'

The Moon IS a natural satellite.

[qube_TA]

I know that's my point, the natural satellite of The Earth is The Moon, the natural satellites of Mars are Phobos & Deimos.

I think the only difference is ours gets a 'The'

[Eric Mc]

qube_TA said:

I know that's my point, the natural satellite of The Earth is The Moon, the natural satellites of Mars are Phobos & Deimos.

I think the only difference is ours gets a 'The'

Why is this an issue?

As I said, for millenia the only moon known of was The Moon". It's only in relatively recent history that other moons circling other planets were discovered. They had to be given spefic names so they could be properly identified in astronomical and scientific terms. And it was decided that the names chosen should be in line with the classic tradition of calling bodies of the solar system after characters of Greek and Roam mythology.

In recent years, some solar system objects have ben given names from the mythology of other cultures, such as Cruithne. This is because we ran out of Greek and Roman names.

[jmorgan]

Mars moons are probably captured.

[Eric Mc]

As are a number of other moons - especially ones that are

small
in odd orbits (including retrograde)
far from their host planets

[K12beano]

When we next discover a clever moon....





....we must call it "Eric".....

[Eric Mc]

Asteroid 4305 is called after Eric Clapton. It's actually called Clapton so Eric might still be available.

I'd like to be called after the first moon found orbiting an extra-solar planet.

[K12beano]

Very fitting

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

I'd like to be called after the first moon found orbiting an extra-solar planet.

Don't you mean you want the moon to be called after YOU?



Otherwise you might have to change your name to EncephalitisMc etc.

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

I'd like to be called after the first moon found orbiting an extra-solar planet.

Don't you mean you want the moon to be called after YOU?



Otherwise you might have to change your name to EncephalitisMc etc.

Did you not know my real name is Gliese 581c M1?

[Eric Mc]

Interesting programme for the moon buffs -



http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yb5jp/Do_W...

[qube_TA]

Eric Mc said:

qube_TA said:

I know that's my point, the natural satellite of The Earth is The Moon, the natural satellites of Mars are Phobos & Deimos.

I think the only difference is ours gets a 'The'

Why is this an issue?

As I said, for millenia the only moon known of was The Moon".

It's not for me, it was in response to the OP's question.

[RichyBoy]

Moon astronauts gone wild lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

[FunkyNige]

RichyBoy said:

Moon astronauts gone wild lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

I always liked the videos of them just messing about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V9quPcNWZE