With the exception of Earth, all
of the planets in our solar system have names from Greek or Roman mythology.
This tradition was continued when Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered in
more modern times.
Mercury also called Hermes, was
the god of commerce, travel and thievery in Roman mythology. The planet
received this name because it moves so quickly across the sky.
Venus or Aphrodite was the Roman goddess of love
and beauty. The planet is probably named
so because it is a brilliant and beautiful
sight in the sky, only outshone by the Moon and the Sun.
Earth, Gaia, is the only planet
whose English name does not derive from Greek/Roman mythology. The name derives
from Old English and Germanic. There are many other names for our planet in
other languages.
Jupiter, Zeus was the King of the
Gods in mythology, making the name aptly
for what is by far the largest planet in our solar system.
Mars or Ares was the god of War. The planet
probably got this name due to its red
coloring.
Saturn, Cronus, was the Roman god
of agriculture.
Uranus is the ancient Roman deity
of the Heavens, the earliest supreme god.
Neptune, Poseidon, was the Roman
god of the Sea. Given the beautiful blue color of this planet, one can
understand the name .
Pluto, Hades, was the Roman god
of the underworld in Roman mythology. The planet possibly received this name because it's so
far from the Sun that it is in perpetual darkness.
The moons have been known for a
long time , and so the names were assigned from mythological characters. For
example, the moons of Jupiter were named for those who had roles in the life of
Zeus, the Greek mythology counterpart of the Roman God Jupiter.
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