Earth's Moon... What is its True Name

[Dewbacca]

A friend of mine and I were discussing the name of the Earth's single Moon. It has been referred to throughout history as "The Moon" and we noticed it was the same in this most complex Model.

What is the "Official" name of the Moon, and will future releases of Celestia include this tiny Edit? This is why I bring this question here. I can easily repair it (on my last version... may be fixed in latest release... Not sure), but I was wondering what names the Community of Celestia called "The Moon".

I think Me and Dave Decided "Luna" was our Favorite.

[mroghy]

"Luna" (pron. loonah) is the italian translation for the Moon.
Like in english, per antonomasia, any moon in italian is called "luna" (moons = "lune").

I think the original greek name "Selene" would be more correct.
IMHO.

bye,
mroghy.

[granthutchison]

If there is an "official" name in English, then it's the one listed on the USGS/IAU Planetary Nomenclature website at http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append7.html, where it is listed as "Moon" and referred to as "the Moon". Luna is the Latin name, and it was popularized by science fiction writers, but I'm not aware that it's used in scientific literature in English.

Grant

[ElPelado]

Yes, LUNA is from latin and not from italian.

This disscucion remembered me the movie Red Planet in wich the crew when reaching mars saw one of mars' moons and then Val Kilmer says: I prefer to have only one moon, so you wont have to remember the name, its only "the moon"

[Guest]

To quote the B52'S:
There's a moon in the sky
It's called the Moon



They were absolutely correct, of course; the official IAU designation of our moon is "the Moon"
(with capital letter)
just as our local star is called "the Sun";

having said that, in the Orion's Arm collaborative worldbuilding universe we call them 'Sol' and Luna'...
so you can take your pick, really...

[eburacum45]

And that last post was me -
(must remember to log in)

[Dewbacca]

I think Latin is the root of many languages... so the Italian word seems to be directly taken from Latin.
Selene is very lovely as a name for this Heavenly object, but "The Moon" is very unimaginitive. I am dissapointed in the "Official" name, and the imagination, or vision of the "Officials".

I want to add that I am continually impressed, and indebted to the Communal mind here at Celestia. I have Spent so much time reading the forums here that I have had little time to reply, or even question. But I am catching up.

Thank you all.