Mercury
Named after Mercury, the Roman messenger god, known for speed — fitting because Mercury moves fastest across the sky.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Venus
Named for Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, because it is the brightest planet.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Earth
The only planet not named after a god. “Earth” comes from Old English/Germanic words meaning ground or soil.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Mars
Named for Mars, the Roman god of war, because of its blood‑red color.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Jupiter
Named for Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods, because it is the largest planet.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Saturn
Named for Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Uranus
Named for Uranus, the ancient Greek god of the sky, father of Saturn.
Source: NASA; Astronomy Magazine starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov Astronomy Magazine
Neptune
Named for Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, because of its deep blue color.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
Pluto (dwarf planet)
Named for Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld — fitting for a dark, distant world.
Source: NASA; historical naming account starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov biologyinsights.com
🌙 Major Moons and the Origins of Their Names
🌍 Earth’s Moon — “Moon” / “Luna” / “Selene”
- “Moon” comes from Old English.
- Ancient Greeks called it Selene (a moon goddess).
Source: Astronomy Magazine Astronomy Magazine
🪐 Moons of Mars
Phobos
Named after Phobos, the Greek god of fear, son of Ares (Mars).
Deimos
Named after Deimos, the Greek god of terror, also a son of Ares.
Source: NASA tradition of mythological naming starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
🌟 Moons of Jupiter (Galilean Moons)
Jupiter’s moons are named after characters connected to Zeus/Jupiter.
Io
A priestess loved by Zeus.
Europa
A Phoenician princess carried away by Zeus.
Ganymede
A beautiful youth taken to Olympus to serve as cupbearer.
Callisto
A nymph associated with Artemis, also loved by Zeus.
Source: NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
💛 Moons of Saturn
Saturn’s moons follow mythological themes connected to Titans, giants, and related figures.
Titan
Named for the Titans, the elder gods before Zeus.
Rhea
Named for Rhea, mother of the Olympian gods.
Iapetus
A Titan, father of Prometheus.
Dione
A goddess sometimes considered the mother of Aphrodite.
Enceladus
A giant in Greek mythology.
Mimas
Another giant.
Source: Classical naming tradition noted by NASA starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov
💠 Moons of Uranus
Uranus is special — its moons are not named after gods.
They are named after characters from Shakespeare and Alexander Pope.
Source: Astronomy Magazine Astronomy Magazine
Examples:
- Titania — Queen of the Fairies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
- Oberon — King of the Fairies
- Ariel — Spirit from The Tempest
- Umbriel — A gloomy sprite from Pope’s The Rape of the Lock
🌊 Moons of Neptune
Neptune’s moons are named after Greek water spirits.
Source: Astronomy Magazine Astronomy Magazine
Triton
Named for Triton, the merman son of Poseidon (Neptune).
Nereid
Named for the Nereids, sea nymphs.
🖤 Moons of Pluto
Pluto’s moons are named after underworld spirits, matching Pluto’s theme.
Source: Astronomy Magazine Astronomy Magazine
Charon
Ferryman of the dead.
Styx
The river of the underworld.
Nix
From Nyx, goddess of night.
Kerberos
The three‑headed guard dog (Cerberus).
Hydra
A many‑headed serpent.
