List of adjectivals and demonyms of astronomical bodies explained

The adjectival forms of the names of astronomical bodies are not always easily predictable. Attested adjectival forms of the larger bodies are listed below, along with the two small Martian moons; in some cases they are accompanied by their demonymic equivalents, which denote hypothetical inhabitants of these bodies.

For Classical (Greco-Roman) names, the adjectival and demonym forms normally derive from the oblique stem, which may differ from the nominative form used in English for the noun form. For instance, for a large portion of names ending in -s, the oblique stem and therefore the English adjective changes the -s to a -d, -t, or -r, as in Mars–Martian, Pallas–Palladian and Ceres–Cererian;[1] occasionally an -n has been lost historically from the nominative form, and reappears in the oblique and therefore in the English adjective, as in Pluto–Plutonian and Atlas–Atlantean.

Many of the more recent or more obscure names are only attested in mythological or literary contexts, rather than in specifically astronomical contexts. Forms ending in -ish or -ine, such as "Puckish", are not included below if a derivation in -an is also attested. Rare forms, or forms only attested with spellings not in keeping with the IAU-approved spelling (such as c for k), are shown in italics.

Note on pronunciationThe suffix -ian is always unstressed: that is, . The related ending -ean, from an e in the root plus a suffix -an, has traditionally been stressed (that is,) if the e is long ē in Latin (or is from (η) ē in Greek); but if the e is short in Latin, the suffix is pronounced the same as -ian. In practice forms ending in -ean may be pronounced as if they were spelled -ian even if the e is long in Latin. This dichotomy should be familiar from the dual pronunciations of Caribbean as and .

Generic bodies

Name Adjective Demonym
asteroidal, asteroidic Asterite
cometary
cosmic, cosmian, universal
ecliptical, zodiacal
galactic, galactian
meteoroidal
nebular
planetary, planetic
planetoidal
quasaric, quasarian
sky celestial
star astral, sidereal, siderean, stellar
supernovan

Constellations

Derivative forms of constellations are used primarily for meteor showers. The genitive forms of the constellations are used to name stars. (See List of constellations.) Other adjectival forms are less common.

Name Adjective Derivative
AndromedaAndromedan Andromedid
Aquarian Aquariid
Arian Arietid
Aurigal Aurigid
Bootid
Cancerian Cancrid
Carinal Carinid
CapricornCapricornian Capricornid
CentaurusCentaurean, Centaurian Centaurid
Cetid
Coma Berenices Comal Coma Berenicid
Corona Austrina Coronal Corona Austrinid
Crucial Crucid
Cygnean Cygnid
Doradid
Draconic Draconid
Eridanid
Geminian Geminid
Hydrid
Leonic, Leonian, Leonean Leonid
Leo Minor Leo Minorid
Libran Librid
Lyrid
Monocerotid
Normid
Ophiuchid
Orionid
Pavonid
Pegasean, Pegasarian Pegasid
Perseid
Phoenicean Phoenicid
Piscean, Piscian Piscid
Piscis Austrinus Piscis Austrinid
Puppid
SagittariusSagittarian Sagittariid
ScorpiusScorpian, Scorpionic Scorpiid
Taurean, Taurian Taurid
Ursal Ursid
Velar, Velic Velid
Virginal, Virginian Virginid
zodiac zodiacal

Planets

Planets and planetoids! Name !! Adjective !! Demonym
Cererian,[2] Cererean[3] Cererian
earthly, Terran, Terrestrial, Terrene, Tellurian,[4] Telluric, Gaian, Gaean Earthling, Terran, Terrestrial, Tellurian, Earthian, Earther, Earthican
Eridian[5]
Haumean[6]
Jovian, Jupiterian, ZeusianJovian
Makemakean[7]
Martian, Martial, Arean[8] Martian
Mercury

Hermes (in the evening),
Apollo (in the morning)
Mercurian, Mercurial, Hermean/Hermeian, Cyllenian,[9] Cyllenean Mercurian, Hermean
Neptunian, Neptunial, Poseidean[10] Neptunian
Orcean,[11] Orcan
Palladian
Plutonic, Plutonian Plutonian
Saturnian, Saturnine, Cronian, Kronian,[12] Saturnial[13] Saturnian
Sednian[14]
Uranian, CaelianUranian
Vestian,[15] [16] Vestan,[17] [18] Vestalian Vestan, Vestian
Venus

Hesperus, Vesper (in the evening),
Eosphorus, Phosphorus, Phosphor (in the morning),
Lucifer (in the day)
Venerian, Venusian, Cytherean,[19] Cytherian,[20] Hesperian,[21] Luciferian,[22] Phosphorian,[23] Aphroditan[24] Venusian, Cytherean

Moons

Earth and Mars! Name !! Adjective !! Demonym
Moon (Luna, Selene) Lunar, Selenian, Cynthian Lunarian, Selenite
Deimian[25]
Phobian[26]
Jupiter! Name !! Adjective, demonym
Callistoan,[27] Callistonian[28]
Europan[29]
Ganymedean,[30] Ganymedian
Io Ionian[31]
Saturn! Name !! Adjective, demonym
Dione Dionean[32] [33]
Enceladean,[34] Enceladan[35] [36]
Hyperionian[37]
Iapetian,[38] Japetian
Mimas Mimantean,[39] Mimantian,[40]
Rhea Rhean[41] [42]
Tethyan[43] [44]
Titan Titanian,[45] Titanean[46]
Uranus! Name !! Adjective, demonym
Arielian[47]
Mirandan,[48] Mirandian[49]
Oberonian[50]
Titanian
Umbrielian[51]
Neptune, Pluto and ! Name !! Adjective, demonym
Tritonian[52]
Charonian[53]
Dysnomian

Galaxies

NameAdjective
Milky Way GalaxyGalactic,[54] Lacteal[55]
Andromeda GalaxyAndromedan
Magellanic CloudsMagellanic

See also

Notes

  1. This is reflected in Russian Паллада Pallada 'Pallas' and Церера Tserera 'Ceres', as well as in Italian Pallade 'Pallas' and Cerere 'Ceres', as in these (and several other) languages the nominal forms of the names often also reflect the oblique. This is not always the case, however – for Mars, Italian Marte parallels the English adjective but Russian Марс Mars parallels the English noun.
  2. Rüpke (2007) A companion to Roman religion
  3. Booth (1923) Flowers of Roman poesy
  4. Web site: Definition of tellurian . 2024-06-06 . www.merriam-webster.com . en.
  5. Web site: David Morrison (2008) Ask an Astrobiologist. https://web.archive.org/web/20090425125638/http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/ask-an-astrobiologist/question/?id=2971. dead. April 25, 2009.
  6. E.g. Giovanni Vulpetti (2013) Fast Solar Sailing, p. 333.
  7. Parker . A. H. . Buie . M. W. . Grundy . W. M. . Noll . K. S. . Discovery of a Makemakean Moon . 2016-04-25 . 1604.07461 . 10.3847/2041-8205/825/1/L9 . 825 . 1 . The Astrophysical Journal . L9 . 2016ApJ...825L...9P . 119270442 . free .
  8. "Schiaparelli on Mars" (1895 [1894]) Nature, v. 51
  9. Lewis (1888) A Latin dictionary for schools
  10. Web site: Enabling Exploration with Small Radioisotope Power Systems. September 2004. 26 January 2016. NASA. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222125722/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/downloads/Small_RPS_Report.pdf. 22 December 2016. dead.
  11. Angley (1847) De Clifford, the philosopher
  12. Müller et al. (2010) Azimuthal plasma flow in the Kronian magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res. 115, A08203
  13. Pennsylvania school journal, v. 29 (1880)
  14. Intermediate (20-100 KM) Sized Volcanic Edifices on Venus. E. N. Slyuta. M. A. Kreslavsky . Lunar and planetary science XXI. 1990. 1174. (for Sedna Planitia). Lunar and Planetary Institute.
  15. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2010) Dawn Journal, March 28
  16. Tsiolkovsky (1960) The call of the cosmos
  17. Meteoritics & planetary science, Volume 42, Issues 6–8, 2007
  18. Origin and evolution of Earth, National Research Council et al., 2008
  19. Raitala (1993) "Crustal tectonic zone on Venus", Earth, Moon, and Planets, v. 64, no. 2
  20. "A theoretical study of the martian and cytherian ionospheres", NASA Technical Reports Server, JPL-TR-32-398
  21. Goodsell Observatory (1909) Popular astronomy, v. 17
  22. Duffy (2009) The Constitution of Shelley's Poetry
  23. Boardman (2001) The poems of Francis Thompson
  24. Patricia Brace (2011) The Broadview Anthology of Sixteenth-Century Poetry and Prose, p. 607
  25. Harry Shipman (2013) Humans in Space: 21st Century Frontiers, p. 317
  26. The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (1911)
  27. Harland (2000) Jupiter odyssey: the story of NASA's Galileo mission
  28. Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v.71, 1911
  29. Greenberg (2005) Europa: the ocean moon
  30. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 95 (1990)
  31. "Electron Beams and Ion Composition Measured at Io and in Its Torus", Science, 1996 October 18
  32. Anthon (1849) The Aeneïd of Virgil
  33. Web site: JPL (2007) Cassini Equinox Mission: Dionean Linea . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230510/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=2528 . 2016-03-03 . dead .
  34. JBIS: journal of the British Interplanetary Society, v. 36 (1983)
  35. Lebowitz (1970) Progress into silence: a study of Melville's heroes
  36. Web site: JPL (2010) Cassini Equinox Mission: Enceladan Tectonics . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111607/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=3859 . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  37. Web site: JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Hyperion.
  38. Web site: JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Iapetus . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150326045917/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/moons/iapetus/ . 2015-03-26 . dead .
  39. Web site: JPL (ca. 2009) Cassini Equinox Mission: Mimas . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905123839/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/moons/mimas/ . 2015-09-05 . dead .
  40. Harrison (1908) Prolegomena to the study of Greek religion, ed. 2
  41. The Westminster review, v. 140 (1893)
  42. Web site: JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Rhea . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160412024233/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/moons/rhea/ . 2016-04-12 . dead .
  43. Şengör & Atayman (2009) The Permian extinction and the Tethys
  44. Web site: Cassini Solstice Mission: Tethys . 2010-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160404145935/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/moons/tethys/ . 2016-04-04 . dead .
  45. JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Huygens Landed with a SplatWeb site: Cassini Equinox Mission: Huygens Landed with a Splat . 2010-05-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100620002838/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/newsreleases/newsrelease20050118-2/ . 2010-06-20 .
  46. Milton, Hughes (2003) Complete poems and major prose
  47. DeKoven (1991) Rich and strange: gender, history, modernism
  48. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 93 (1988)
  49. Robertson (1929) The life of Miranda
  50. Normand (1970) Nathaniel Hawthorne
  51. James Hall III (2015) Moons of the Solar System, p. 150
  52. Bunbury (1883) A history of ancient geography
  53. Kathryn Bosher (2012) Theater outside Athens: Drama in Greek Sicily and South Italy, pp 100, 104–105
  54. When capitalized, "Galactic" refers specifically to the Milky Way galaxy.
  55. The Independent, v. 55, p. 964 (1903)

External links

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