We love exoplanets, we’d love to compare
What kind of collisions on planets out there?
The challenge is huge, it couldn’t be greater
We have zero data — we can’t see a crater!
— Sean Raymond, "Bombardment of 7 Orbs", 2022
An extrasolar planet or exoplanet is simply a planet that orbits a star other than the Sun. Long the stuff of science fiction, advances in telescopic technology and imagery, both ground-based and space-based, have led to the discovery of several thousand potential exoplanets since 1988.
In 2014 and again in 2019, the IAU published a list of well-studied exoplanets, inviting the public to submit names for them. The winners are listed below. In some of the planetary systems, the star already had an approved name but in others, the star as well as its planets were named.
Star Name | Catalogue Designation | Planet Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
Absolutno | XO-5 | a fictional miraculous substance from Czech writer Karel Čapek's Továrna na absolutno | |
XO-5 b | Makropulos | a name from Czech writer Karel Čapek's Věc makropulos | |
Ain | ε Tau | the eye of the bull [Arabic] | |
ε Tau b | Amateru | the name for shrines of the Shinto goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu, who was born from the left eye of the god Izanagi [Japanese] | |
Alasia | HD 168746 | an ancient place name associated with Cyprus | |
HD 168746 b | Onasilos | the earliest recorded doctor in Cyprus | |
Amadioha | HD 43197 | the Igbo deity of thunder, love, peace and unity | |
HD 43197 b | Equiano | named for the Nigerian writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano | |
Amansinaya | CD−23 9677 | the Tagalog primordial deity of the ocean and protector of fishermen | |
CD−23 9677 b | Haik | the successor to Aman Sinaya as god of the sea [Tagalog] | |
Anadolu | WASP-52 | Turkish form of Anatolia | |
WASP-52 b | Göktürk | the historical origin of the Turkish people | |
Aniara | HD 102956 | the name of a fictional spaceship from Swedish writer Harry Martinson's poem Aniara: en revy om människan i tid och rum | |
HD 102956 b | Isagel | the pilot of the spaceship Aniara | |
Arcalis | HD 131496 | a mountain in northern Andorra | |
HD 131496 b | Madriu | a glacial valley and river in southern Andorra | |
Atakoraka | WASP-64 | the chain of the Atacora, a mountain range in Togo | |
WASP-64 b | Agouto | the highest mountain in Togo | |
Axólotl | HD 224963 | the salamander [Nahautl] | |
HD 224963 b | Xólotl | an Aztec deity associated with the evening star [Nahautl] | |
Ayeyarwady | HD 18742 | a river in Myanmar | |
HD 18742 b | Bagan | an ancient city on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River | |
Baekdu | 8 UMi | the highest mountain on the Korean penninsula | |
8 UMi b | Halla | the highest mountain in South Korea | |
Belel | HD 181342 | a rare source of water in northern Senegal | |
HD 181342 b | Dopere | the region where Belel is located | |
Bélénos | HD 8574 | the Celtic deity of the Sun | |
HD 8574 b | Bélisama | the Gaulish goddess of fire, particularly the hearth, metallurgy and glasswork | |
Berehinya | HAT-P-15 | the Slavic deity of waters and riverbanks and later the national goddess of Ukraine | |
HAT-P-15 b | Tryzub | the ancient symbol of Ukraine | |
Bibhā | HD 86081 | the bright beam of light [Bengali] | |
HD 86081 b | Santamasa | clouded [Sanskrit] | |
Bosona | HD 206610 | the early medieval name of Bosnia | |
HD 206610 b | Naron | another name for the Neretva River in Herzegovina | |
Bubup | HD 38283 | the child [Boon Wurrung] | |
HD 38283 b | Yanyan | the boy [Boon Wurrung] | |
Buna | HD 16175 | coffee [Amharic] | |
HD 16175 b | Abol | the first of three rounds of coffee in the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony [Amharic] | |
Ceibo | HD 63454 | a tree that gives rise to the national flower of Uruguay | |
HD 63454 b | Ibirapitá | a tree native to Uruguay | |
Cervantes | μ Ara | named for the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra | |
μ Ara b | Quijote | a fictional character from Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha | |
μ Ara c | Dulcinea | a fictional character from Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha | |
μ Ara d | Rocinante | a fictional character from Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha | |
μ Ara e | Sancho | a fictional character from Cervantes' El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha | |
Chalawan | 47 UMa | the mythological crocodile king from Thai folklore | |
47 UMa b | Taphao Thong | one of two sisters associated with the Thai folktale of Chalawan | |
47 UMa c | Taphao Kaew | one of two sisters associated with the Thai folktale of Chalawan | |
Chaophraya | WASP-50 | the Chao Phraya River in Thailand | |
WASP-50 b | Maeping | a tributary of Chao Phraya | |
Chasoň | HAT-P-5 | the Sun [ancient Slovak] | |
HAT-P-5 b | Kráľomoc | the planet Jupiter [ancient Slovak] | |
Chechia | HD 192699 | the traditional red wool hat worn in Tunisia | |
HD 192699 b | Khomsa | the palm-shaped amulet popular in Tunisia | |
Citadelle | HD 1502 | a large mountain fortress in Haiti [French] | |
HD 1502 b | Indépendance | independance [French] | |
Citalá | HD 52265 | the river of stars [Nahuatl] | |
HD 52265 b | Cayuhuanca | the rock looking at the stars [Nahuatl] | |
Cocibolca | HD 4208 | a lake in Nicaragua [Nahautl] | |
HD 4208 b | Xolotlan | a lake in Nicaragua [Nahautl] | |
Copernicus | 55 Cnc | named for the Polish astronomer Nicolas Copernicus (Mikolaj Kopernik) | |
55 Cnc b | Galileo | named for the Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei | |
55 Cnc c | Brahe | named for the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe | |
55 Cnc d | Lipperhey | named for the German-Dutch lens grinder and spectacle maker Hans Lipperhey | |
55 Cnc e | Janssen | named for the Dutch spectacle maker Zacharius Janssen | |
55 Cnc f | Harriot | named for the English astronomer and mathematician Thomas Harriot | |
Dingolay | HD 96063 | to dance and twist [Trinidad and Tobago] | |
HD 96063 b | Ramajay | to sing and make music in a steelpan style [Trinidad and Tobago] | |
Dìwö | WASP-17 | the sun [Bribri] | |
WASP-17 b | Ditsô | the name of the early Bribri people given by the god Sibô [Bribri] | |
Diya | CD−30 1019 | the oil lamp brought to Mauritius in the 1820's and used for lighting during special occasions | |
CD−30 1019 b | Cuptor | a thermally insulated chamber used for baking or drying on Mauritius | |
Dofida | HD 117618 | our star [Nias] | |
HD 117618 b | Noifasui | to revolve around [Nias] | |
Dombay | HAT-P-3 | a region in the North Caucasus mountains | |
HAT-P-3 b | Teberda | a river in the Dombay region | |
Ebla | HD 218566 | an ancient Syrian kingdom | |
HD 218566 b | Ugarit | an ancient Syrian port city | |
Edasich | ι Dra | the hyena [Arabic] | |
ι Dra b | Hypatia | named for the Greek astronomer, mathematician and philosopher | |
Emiw | HD 7199 | love [Makhuwa] | |
HD 7199 b | Hairu | unity [Makhuwa] | |
Errai | γ Cep | the shepherd [Arabic] | |
γ Cep b | Tadmor | ancient Semitic and mordern Arabic name for the city of Palmyra | |
Fafnir | 42 Dra | the Norse mythological dwarf who turned into a dragon | |
42 Dra b | Orbitar | contrived word honouring space launch and orbital operations of NASA | |
Felixvarela | BD−17 63 | named for the Cuban teacher Felix Varela | |
BD−17 63 b | Finlay | named for the Cuban epidemiologist Carlos Juan Finlay | |
Flegetonte | HD 102195 | the river of fire in the underworld of Greek mythology, as described in Dante Alighieri's La Divina Commedia | |
HD 102195 b | Lete | the river of oblivion in the underworld of Greek mythology, as described in Dante Alighieri's La Divina Commedia | |
Fomalhaut | α PsA | the mouth of the whale [Arabic] | |
α PsA b | Dagon | Semitic half-man, half-fish deity | |
Formosa | HD 100655 | the historical name for Taiwan [Latin] | |
HD 100655 b | Sazum | the traditional name for the town of Yuchi [Thao] | |
Franz | HAT-P-14 | named for Emperor Franz Joseph Ⅰ of Austria | |
HAT-P-14 b | Sissi | named for Princess Elisabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph Ⅰ of Austria | |
Funi | HD 109246 | the fire [Icelandic] | |
HD 109246 b | Fold | the earth [Icelandic] | |
Gakyid | HD 73534 | happiness [Dzongkha] | |
HD 73534 b | Drukyui | the land of the thunder dragon, the native name of Bhutan, | |
Gloas | WASP-13 | to shine [Manx Gaelic] | |
WASP-13 b | Cruinlagh | to orbit [Manx Gaelic] | |
Gumala | HD 179949 | the magic bezoar stone found in dragons [Malay] | |
HD 179949 b | Mastika | gem or jewel [Malay] | |
Helvetios | 51 Peg | the Celtic tribe that lived in Switzerland during the Middle Ages [Latin] | |
51 Peg b | Dimidium | half (the mass of Jupiter) [Latin] | |
Hoggar | HD 28678 | a mountain range in the Sahara Desert | |
HD 28678 b | Tassili | a site in the Sahara Desert known for its prehistoric cave art | |
Horna | HAT-P-38 | the underworld from Finnish mythology | |
HAT-P-38 b | Hiisi | sacred localities or evil spirits from Finnish mythology | |
Hunahpú | HD 98219 | one of the twin deities who became the Sun in Mayan mythology [K'iche'] | |
HD 98219 b | Ixbalanqué | one of the twin deities who became the Moon in Mayan mythology [K'iche'] | |
Hunor | HD 147506 | the legendary founder of the Huns and the Hungarian nation, and brother to Magor | |
HD 147506 b | Magor | the legendary founder of the Magyar people and the Hungarian nation, and brother to Hunor | |
Illyrian | HD 82886 | an ancient group of tribes that inhabited the western Balkans | |
HD 82886 b | Arber | the name for the Albanians during the Middle Ages | |
Inquill | HD 156411 | a fictional character from Peruvian writer Pedro Abraham Valdelomar Pinto's El camino hacia el Sol | |
HD 156411 b | Sumajmajta | a fictional character from Peruvian writer Pedro Abraham Valdelomar Pinto's El camino hacia el Sol | |
Intan | HD 20868 | the diamond [Bahasa Melayu] | |
HD 20868 b | Baiduri | the opal [Bahasa Melayu] | |
Intercrus | HD 81688 | between the legs [Latin] | |
HD 81688 b | Arkas | the son of Callisto (Ursa Major) [Greek] | |
Irena | HD 146389 | a fictional character from Slovene writer Fran Saleški Finžgar's Pod svobodnim soncern | |
HD 146389 b | Iztok | a fictional character from Slovene writer Fran Saleški Finžgar's Pod svobodnim soncern | |
Itonda | HD 208487 | all that is beautiful [Myene] | |
HD 208487 b | Mintome | a mythical land inhabited by a brotherhood of brave men [Fang] | |
Kalausi | HD 83443 | a strong whirlwind [Dholuo] | |
HD 83443 b | Buru | dust [Dholuo] | |
Kamui | HD 145457 | a supernatural entity possessing spiritual energy [Ainu] | |
HD 145457 b | Chura | natural beauty [Ryukyuan/Okinawan] | |
Karaka | HD 137388 | a plant native to New Zealand [Maori] | |
HD 137388 b | Kerurū | a large bush pigeon native to New Zealand [Maori] | |
Kaveh | HD 175541 | a fictional character from Persian poet Ferdowsi's epic work Shahnameh | |
HD 175541 b | Kavian | of Kaveh | |
Koeia | CD−23 1056 | the star [Taíno] | |
CD−23 1056 b | Aumatex | the Taíno god of wind | |
Koit | XO-4 | dawn [Estonian] | |
XO-4 b | Hämarik | twilight [Estonian] | |
Lerna | HAT-P-42 | the lake where the mythological nine-headed Hydra lived [Greek] | |
HAT-P-42 b | Iolaus | the nephew of Heracles from Greek mythology | |
Libertas | ξ Aql | liberty [Latin] | |
ξ Aql b | Fortitudo | fortitude [Latin] | |
Lich | PSR B1257+12 | the undead creature which controls other undead creatures through magic [Middle English] | |
PSR B1257+12 b | Draugr | an undead creature in Norse mythology | |
PSR B1257+12 c | Poltergeist | a supernatural being that creates physical disturbances [German] | |
PSR B1257+12 d | Phobetor | the Greek deity of nightmares and son of Nyx | |
Liesma | HD 118203 | the flame [Latvian] | |
HD 118203 b | Staburags | the rock [Latvian] | |
Lionrock | HD 212771 | a lion-shaped peak overlooking Hong Kong | |
HD 212771 b | Victoriapeak | a peak overlooking Hong Kong harbour | |
Lucilinburhuc | HD 45350 | an ancient, possibly Roman, fortress in Luxembourg | |
HD 45350 b | Peitruss | from the name of the Luxembourg river Pétrusse | |
Lusitânia | HD 45652 | an ancient name for the region now occupied by Portugal | |
HD 45652 b | Viriato | named for the Lusitanian leader who led the resistance against Roman invasion | |
Macondo | HD 92083 | a fictional village from Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez's Cien añon de soledad | |
HD 92083 b | Melquíades | a fictional character from Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez's Cien añon de soledad | |
Mago | HD 32518 | an Ethiopian national park | |
HD 32518 b | Neri | a river which runs through Mago National Park | |
Mahsati | HD 152581 | named for the Azerbaijani poet Mahsati Ganjavi | |
HD 152581 b | Ganja | an ancient city in Azerbaijan and birthplace of Mahsati Ganjavi | |
Malmok | WASP-39 | a beach in Aruba | |
WASP-39 b | Bocaprins | a beach in Aruba | |
Márohu | WASP-6 | the Taíno deity of drought and protector of the sun | |
WASP-6 b | Boinayel | the Taíno god of rain | |
Mazaalai | HAT-P-21 | an endangered Gobi bear subspecies | |
HAT-P-21 b | Bambaruush | the bear cub | |
Moldoveanu | BD+28 2507 | the highest peak in the Făgăraş mountain range | |
BD+28 2507 b | Negiou | the second highest peak in the Făgăraş mountain range | |
Mönch | HD 130322 | a prominent peak in the Bernese Alps | |
HD 130322 b | Eiger | a prominent peak in the Bernese Alps | |
Montuno | CD−30 1812 | the traditional costume worn by the men of Panama [Spanish] | |
CD−30 1812 b | Pollera | the traditional costume worn by the women of Panama [Spanish] | |
Morava | WASP-60 | the longest river in Serbia | |
WASP-60 b | Vlasina | a significant tributary of the Morava River | |
Moriah | HAT-P-23 | the ancient name of the mountain within the old city of Jerusalem | |
HAT-P-23 b | Jebus | an ancient name of Jerusalem | |
Mouhoun | HD 30856 | a river in Burkino Faso | |
HD 30856 b | Nakanbé | a river in Burkino Faso | |
Mpingo | WASP-71 | the African blackwood tree [Swahili] | |
WASP-71 b | Tanzanite | a precious stone found only in Tanzania | |
Musica | 18 Del | music [Latin] | |
18 Del b | Arion | a performer of poetry and music in ancient Greece | |
Muspelheim | HAT-P-29 | the Norse mythological realm of fire | |
HAT-P-29 b | Surt | the ruler of Muspelheim and the fire giants | |
Naledi | CPD−64 484 | the star [Sesotho] | |
CPD−64 484 b | Krotoa | named for !Orolõas who is considered to be the Mother of Africa | |
Násti | HD 68988 | the star [Northern Sami] | |
HD 68988 b | Albmi | the sky [Northern Sami] | |
Natasha | HD 85390 | thank you [languages of Zaire] | |
HD 85390 b | Madalitso | blessings [Nyanja] | |
Nenque | HD 6434 | the sun [Waorani] | |
HD 6434 b | Eyeke | near [Waorani] | |
Nervia | HD 49674 | derived from Nervii, a Belgian Celtic tribe | |
HD 49674 b | Eburonia | derived from Eburones, a Belgian Celtic tribe | |
Nikawiy | HD 136418 | the mother [Cree] | |
HD 136418 b | Awasis | the child [Cree] | |
Nosaxa | HD 48265 | sprint [Moqoit] | |
HD 48265 b | Naqaÿa | brother-family-relative [Moqoit] | |
Nushagak | HD 17156 | a river in Alaska famous for its wild salmon | |
HD 17156 b | Mulchatna | a tributary of the Nushagak River | |
Nyamien | WASP-15 | the supreme creator deity of Akan mythology | |
WASP-15 b | Asye | the Earth goddess of Akan mythology | |
Ogma | HD 149026 | the Celtic deity of eloquence, writing and physical strength | |
HD 149026 b | Smertrios | the Gallic deity of war | |
Parumleo | WASP-32 | the little lion [Latin] | |
WASP-32 b | Viculus | the little village [Latin] | |
Petra | WASP-80 | the ancient Jordanian city of Petra | |
WASP-80 b | Wadirum | Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, in Jordan | |
Phoenicia | V1703 Aql | an ancient civilisation of the Mediterranean | |
V1703 Aql b | Beirut | one of the oldest cities in the world and a Phoenician port | |
Pincoya | HD 164604 | the Chilean water spirit who brings drowned sailors to Caleuche so that they may live in the afterlife | |
HD 164604 b | Caleuche | the Chilean phantom ship which sails around the island of Chiloé at night | |
Pipoltr | TrES-3 | a bright and visible butterfly [Triesenberg dialect, Liechtenstein] | |
TrES-3 b | Umbäässa | a small and barely visible ant [southern Leichtenstein dialect] | |
Poerava | HD 221287 | a large black pearl of utter beauty and perfection [Maori] | |
HD 221287 b | Pipitea | a small white and gold pearl found in the Penrhyn Lagoon in the Cook Islands | |
Pollux | β Gem | the name of a character in Greek mythology | |
β Gem b | Thestias | the patronym of Leda (mother of Pollux and Castor) and her sister Althaea [Greek] | |
Ran | ε Eri | the Norse goddess of the sea | |
ε Eri b | AEgir | Ran's husband, the Norse god of the ocean | |
Rapeto | HD 153950 | a giant creature from Malagasy tales | |
HD 153950 b | Trimobe | a rich ogre from Malagasy tales | |
Rosalíadecastro | HD 149143 | named for the Galacian writer and poet María Rosalía Rita de Castro | |
HD 149143 b | Riosar | the Rio Sar, a river which appears in many works by de Castro | |
Sagarmatha | HD 100777 | the Nepali name for Mount Everest | |
HD 100777 b | Laligurans | the Nepali version of the rhododendron | |
Sāmaya | HD 205739 | peace [Sinhalese] | |
HD 205739 b | Samagiya | unity [Sinhalese] | |
Sansuna | HD 351766 | a Maltese mythological giant who carried the stones of the Gozo megalithic temples on her head | |
HD 351766 | Ġgantija | the giantess; the megalithic temple complex on the island of Gozo [Maltese] | |
Shama | HD 99109 | the flame or small lamp [Urdu] | |
HD 99109 b | Perwana | the moth [Urdu] | |
Sharjah | HIP 79431 | the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates [Arabic] | |
HIP 79431 b | Barajeel | a wind tower used to direct the flow of air so that it can be recycled [Arabic] | |
Sika | HD 181720 | gold [Ewe] | |
HD 181720 b | Toge | the earring [Ewe] | |
Solaris | BD+14 4559 | the title of a novel by Polish writer Stansilaw Lem | |
BD+14 4559 b | Pirx | a fictional character in Lem's stories | |
Sterrennacht | HAT-P-6 | 'Starry Night', the famous painting by Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh | |
HAT-P-6 b | Nachtwacht | 'The Night Watch', the famous painting by Dutch master Rembrandt Harmenszoonvan Rijn | |
Stribor | HD 75898 | the Slavic deity of the winds | |
HD 75898 b | Veles | the Slavic deity of the earth, waters and underworld | |
Taika | HAT-P-40 | peace [Lithuanian] | |
HAT-P-40 b | Vytis | the Lithuanian coat of arms [Lithuanian] | |
Tangra | WASP-21 | the supreme celestial deity worshipped by early Bulgars | |
WASP-21 b | Bendida | the great mother goddess of the early Thracians | |
Tapecue | HD 63765 | the eternal path [Guarani] | |
HD 63765 b | Yvaga | paradise [Guarani] | |
Tevel | HAT-P-9 | the universe [Hebrew] | |
HAT-P-9 b | Alef | the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet | |
Timir | HD 148427 | darkness [Bengali] | |
HD 148427 b | Tondra | nap [Bengali] | |
Tislit | WASP-161 | the bride [Amazigh] | |
WASP-161 b | Isli | the groom [Amazigh] | |
Titawin | υ And | a settlement in northern Morocco | |
υ And b | Saffar | named for Abu al-Qasim Ahmed Ibn-Abd Allah Ibn-Omar al Ghafiqi Ibn-al-Saffar, teacher of arithmetic, geometry and astronomy in eleventh century Andalusia | |
υ And c | Samh | named for Abu al-Qazim 'Asbagh ibn Muhammad ibn al-Samh al-Mahri, eleventh century astronomer and mathematician in Andalusia | |
υ And d | Majriti | named for Abu al-Qasim al-Qurtubi al-Majriti, notable mathematician, astronomer and teacher in tenth and eleventh century Andalusia | |
Tojil | WASP-22 | a Mayan deity of rain, storms and fire [K'iche'] | |
WASP-22 b | Koyopa' | lightning [K'iche'] | |
Tonatiuh | HD 104985 | the Aztec god of the Sun | |
HD 104985 b | Maztli | the Aztec goddess of the Moon | |
Tuiren | HAT-P-36 | a relative of legendary Irish hunter/warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill | |
HAT-P-36 b | Bran | the son of Tuiren | |
Tupā | HD 108147 | the supreme deity who created the universe | |
HD 108147 b | Tumearandu | Tume Arandu, the son of the first man and woman in the universe [Guarani] | |
Tupi | HD 23079 | an indigenous people of South America | |
HD 23079 b | Guarani | an indigenous people of South America | |
Uklun | HD 102117 | us or we [Pitkern] | |
HD 102117 b | Leklsullun | child or children [Pitkern] | |
Uruk | HD 231701 | an ancient Mesopotamian city [Akkadian] | |
HD 231701 b | Babylonia | a kingdom in Mesopotamia [Akkadian] | |
Veritate | 14 And | truth [Latin] | |
14 And b | Spe | hope [Latin] | |
Xihe | HD 173416 | the Chinese goddess of the sun | |
HD 173416 b | Wangshu | the Chinese goddess of the moon |