IAU expresses opposition to Mars crater naming initiative
Posted: Thu, Mar 13, 2014, 7:33 AM ET (1133 GMT)
An effort to crowdsource names for Martian craters that seeks to raise money for space education and research efforts is facing opposition from an international astronomy organization. Last month, Uwingu announced it was seeking names for up to half a million craters on Mars that currently do not have names; people can name those craters on Uwingu's map for fees starting at $5, with proceeds being used to fund space research and education efforts. However, on Tuesday the International Astronomical Union (IAU) said it opposed such efforts, saying they "go against the spirit of free and equal access to space" as well as current planetary nomenclature standards. The IAU statement did not explicitly mention Uwingu, but said that names purchased in such a manner would not be used on official IAU maps. Uwingu officials have argued that it is "misguided" for the IAU to discourage public participation in such efforts, or that the organization is the only one who should be able to name features on other worlds.
An effort to crowdsource names for Martian craters that seeks to raise money for space education and research efforts is facing opposition from an international astronomy organization. Last month, Uwingu announced it was seeking names for up to half a million craters on Mars that currently do not have names; people can name those craters on Uwingu's map for fees starting at $5, with proceeds being used to fund space research and education efforts. However, on Tuesday the International Astronomical Union (IAU) said it opposed such efforts, saying they "go against the spirit of free and equal access to space" as well as current planetary nomenclature standards. The IAU statement did not explicitly mention Uwingu, but said that names purchased in such a manner would not be used on official IAU maps. Uwingu officials have argued that it is "misguided" for the IAU to discourage public participation in such efforts, or that the organization is the only one who should be able to name features on other worlds.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 1
FCC Adopts New Satellite Spectrum Sharing Rules
Broadband Breakfast — 6:04 am ET (1004 GMT) New FCC Rules Could Mean 'Sevenfold' Capacity Increase for Starlink
PC Magazine — 6:03 am ET (1003 GMT) Space Command moves into first Redstone building
Axios — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Sierra Space Elects Retired Lieutenant General John E. Shaw to Board of Directors
PR Newswire — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Spacecom Takes Operational Control of Facility in Alabama
US Dept. of Defense — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) |
