Help Name the Craters on Eros!
The Planetary Society
http://planetary.org/news/hot-topics-name-eros.html
As NEAR approaches its target -- 433 Eros -- the mission
team is faced with the daunting challenge of naming more
than 100 craters that may be found on Eros and for which
names will be useful, as when making reference to unique
features of geographic position. The team would like a
little help.
The NEAR team has asked Planetary Society members and
others to suggest crater names, which will later be
submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
for official consideration. The selection process will
follow the strict rules laid down by the international
organization to ensure that the names chosen are
appropriate and worthy.
Once a planetary body's discoverer has selected a name,
there follows a theme for naming the geologic features
such as craters. For example, Gaspra, the first asteroid
imaged by Galileo, was named for a resert in the Crimea.
Its craters are called after spas of the world. Galileo's
next asteroidal target, Ida, was named for a nymph who
lived on the shores of Crete. Its craters are called after
caverns and grottos of the world.
The name Eros suggests an obvious theme: love. The craters
of Eros can be named after famous lovers, legendary
romantic locales, aspects of love, and so on. (Please, no
obscene or offensive names.)
You are invited to submit names for Eros' craters. Each
suggestion should be accompanied by a short explanation
(50 words maximum) of why the name is appropriate. Please
use a separate sheet of paper for each suggestion. Send
your entries to:
Names on Eros
The Planetary Society
65 N. Catalina Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106
USA
A complete overview of the IAU's naming process is at:
http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/nomen/nomen.html