The moon. We see it every night, yet we rarely call it by its proper name. Most of us just say "the moon" as if it’s the only one in the universe, which is kinda funny when you consider that Jupiter has nearly a hundred of them. But if you’re looking for another name of moon, you’ve probably realized that our celestial neighbor has a bit of an identity crisis across different cultures and scientific circles.
Look, technically, the Earth’s natural satellite is named "the Moon" with a capital M. That’s the official International Astronomical Union (IAU) designation. It's simple. It's direct. But honestly, it's also a bit boring compared to the poetic and historical titles we’ve given it over the last few thousand years.
Why We Call It Luna (And Why You Might Be Wrong About It)
Ask a sci-fi fan or a Latin student for another name of moon, and they’ll immediately shout "Luna." It sounds sophisticated. It sounds ancient. That’s because it is. Luna is the Latin name for the Moon, and it’s where we get the word "lunar." In Roman mythology, Luna was the divine embodiment of the moon, often depicted driving a silver chariot across the night sky.
People often think Luna is the "official" scientific name used by NASA. It isn't. Not really.
NASA and most astronomers stick to "The Moon" in English, though they use "Lunar" as an adjective for everything from the Lunar Gateway to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Using Luna is more of a stylistic choice today. It’s a way to distinguish our moon from, say, Ganymede or Enceladus. If you’re writing a novel or a poem, Luna is your best friend. If you’re writing a peer-reviewed paper for the Astrophysical Journal, you’re probably sticking to "the Moon."
Selene: The Greek Origin Story
Long before the Romans were dominating the Mediterranean, the Greeks were looking up at the same rock and calling it Selene. This is probably the most significant another name of moon because it gave us the term "selenology," which is the study of the Moon’s geology.
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Selene was the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Unlike later lunar goddesses like Artemis, Selene was the moon itself. The Greeks saw her as a gentle, pale figure who bathed in the ocean before riding her chariot.
There’s a weird nuance here. We use Greek roots for almost everything in astronomy. We talk about the "apogee" and "perigee" of the moon’s orbit. Those terms come from Ge (Earth), but the study of the moon’s surface features—the craters, the maria, the rilles—is selenography. So, while you might not use Selene in a casual text to your mom, the name is baked into the very fabric of how we study the thing.
The Moon's Names in Other Languages
It’s easy to get stuck in a Western-centric bubble. But the Moon has different identities depending on where you're standing on Earth.
- Mani: In Norse mythology, Mani is the personification of the moon, brother to Sol (the Sun). He's constantly being chased by a wolf named Hati. It’s a bit more metal than the Greek myths.
- Chandra: This is a huge one. In Sanskrit and Hindu mythology, Chandra is a lunar deity associated with the night and vegetation. Many people in India still use this as a common name.
- Tsukiyomi: In Japanese Shinto mythology, this is the moon god who was born from the right eye of Izanagi.
- Chang’e: You’ve probably heard this one recently because of China’s Chang’e lunar missions. She’s the Chinese goddess of the moon who lives there with a jade rabbit.
The Scientific Designations: Earth I
Is there a "code name" for the moon? Sorta. In some astronomical catalogs, especially when discussing the Earth-Moon system as a binary planet system, you might see the Moon referred to as Earth I.
This isn't used by the guy at the local observatory, but it highlights a shift in how we think about our place in space. Because the Moon is so large relative to Earth—about 27% of its size—some scientists argue we are a double planet system rather than just a planet and a submissive satellite.
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The "Old Names" and Seasonal Monikers
Sometimes, another name of moon isn't about the rock itself, but about when we see it. This is where the Old Farmer’s Almanac comes in. These aren't different moons, obviously, but they are distinct names that have become part of our cultural lexicon.
Take the "Wolf Moon" in January. Or the "Harvest Moon" in September. These names mostly come from Native American, Colonial American, and European folklore. The Harvest Moon is actually functional—it’s the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, providing extra light for farmers to work late into the night.
Then you have the "Blue Moon." It’s not actually blue. It’s just the second full moon in a single calendar month (usually). Or the "Blood Moon," which happens during a total lunar eclipse when the Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight and casts a red shadow on the lunar surface. These aren't scientific names, but they are the names people actually use when they look up.
Misconceptions About the "Dark Side"
We have to talk about this. People love calling the far side of the moon the "Dark Side." Thanks, Pink Floyd.
But it’s a total misnomer. The far side gets just as much sunlight as the side we see. It’s only "dark" in the sense that it’s mysterious and was unseen by human eyes until the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft took pictures of it in 1959. If you want to be accurate, call it the "Farside" or the "Lunar Hemispheres."
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Actually, the moon is tidally locked. This means it rotates on its axis at the same speed it orbits Earth. We always see the same "face"—the Near Side. The features on that face have their own names, like the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis). These "seas" aren't water; they’re ancient basaltic plains from volcanic eruptions.
The Moon as "Cynthia" and "Phoebe"
If you dive into old English poetry, you’ll find some deep cuts. "Cynthia" was a common epithet for the moon in the 16th and 17th centuries. It comes from Mount Cynthus, the birthplace of Artemis (the Greek moon goddess). Ben Jonson wrote a whole play called Cynthia's Revels.
"Phoebe" is another one. It means "bright" or "radiant." In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titaness who held the Oracle of Delphi before passing it to Apollo. Because she was associated with the moon, the name stuck as a poetic alternative. You won't find these in a textbook, but they're part of the moon's linguistic history.
Why Does It Matter What We Call It?
Names carry weight. When we call it "The Moon," it’s an object. When we call it "Luna," it’s a destination. When we call it "Selene," it’s a piece of history.
As we move toward a future where humans are living on the lunar surface—thanks to the Artemis program—these names are going to become more important. We’ll need to distinguish between different regions, craters, and maybe even future lunar cities.
Actionable Steps for Lunar Enthusiasts
If you want to move beyond just knowing another name of moon and actually experience it, here is how you can get started:
- Download a Moon Phase App: Use something like "My Moon Phase" or "Daff Moon" to track where it is in its cycle. You'll start to notice that the Moon isn't just a night thing; it's often visible during the day.
- Learn the Major Maria: Get a cheap pair of binoculars. Look for the "Man in the Moon" features. Identify the Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) and the Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity). These are the names that actually matter for navigation.
- Watch the Terminator: No, not the movie. The terminator is the line between the light and dark sides of the moon. This is where the shadows are longest and the craters look the most dramatic. It’s the best place to look through a telescope.
- Follow the Artemis Missions: NASA’s current mission to return humans to the moon is named after the twin sister of Apollo. Following these updates will give you a modern context for lunar nomenclature.
- Check the Lunar Calendar: If you're into photography or just stargazing, knowing when the "New Moon" occurs is vital. That's when the sky is darkest, and you can see the Milky Way best.
The moon is more than just a light in the sky. It's a mirror of human culture, reflecting our myths, our science, and our future. Whether you call it the Moon, Luna, Selene, or Earth’s Night Light, it remains the most influential neighbor we have. Understanding its names is just the first step in understanding our place in the solar system.