I haven’t done enough research this week to put together a Sciency Words post. I’ve been too busy with other writing. However, I do have some name-related news to share with you today.
As you may have already heard, astronomers recently discovered twenty new moons orbiting the planet Saturn. This brings Saturn’s total moon count up to 82, surpassing Jupiter’s total of 79.
These newly discovered moons are each about five kilometers in diameter, according to this press release from Carnegie Science. That’s really small for moons. These objects are more like asteroids that happen to be caught in Saturn’s gravity. Or they might be rubble left over from the destruction of older Saturnian moons. Saturn may (or may not) have a long history of destroying her own moons.
Now astronomers are asking for you (yes, you!) to help name these newly discovered moons. Due to established naming conventions, these particular Saturnian moons must be named after giants from Inuit, Norse, or Gallic mythology. Tweet your suggestions to @SaturnLegacy using the hashtag #NameSaturnsMoons. Name submissions are due by December 6, 2019.
So go crack open some books on Inuit, Norse, and Gallic mythology, and may the best names win!
Planet Pailly 
I’m busy preparing a congratulatory note to Saturn, but in the meantime, are you going to try your hand at naming a moon?
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I sure am! I’m going to spend some time researching this so I can pick a really good one.
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This is amazing! Norse mythology is getting its long deserved appreciation!
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Indeed! We were bound to run out of Greek and Roman names eventually.
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Someone will no doubt suggest Moony McMoonface 😦
OMG it was me 😦
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Yeah. I’m guessing this is why they’re so insistent on the Inuit, Norse, and Gallic mythology themes.
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