Titan (moon)

:This page is about the moon of Saturn. For other meanings, see Titan (disambiguation).

Name

Huygens named his discovery simply Saturni Luna (Latin for "Saturn's moon", which can also be written Luna Saturni) (De Saturni Luna observatio nova, 1656; XV). Later, Jean-Dominique Cassini named the four moons he discovered (Tethys, Dione, Rhea and Iapetus) Lodicea Sidera ("the stars of Louis") to honour king Louis XIV. Astronomers fell into the habit of referring to them as Saturn I through Saturn V. Other epithets used were the "Huygenian satellite of Saturn" (or "Huyghenian"), or the "sixth satellite of Saturn" (Saturn VI, still in use) (in order of distance from Saturn, once Mimas and Enceladus were also discovered in 1789).

Related Topics:
Jean-Dominique Cassini - Tethys - Dione - Rhea - Iapetus - Louis XIV - Mimas - Enceladus - 1789

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The name "Titan" and the names of all seven satellites of Saturn then known come from John Herschel (son of William Herschel, discoverer of Mimas and Enceladus) in his 1847 publication Results of Astronomical Observations made at the Cape of Good Hope{{an|Lassell}}, wherein he suggested the names of the Titans, sisters and brothers of Cronos (the Greek Saturn), be used.

Related Topics:
John Herschel - William Herschel - 1847 - Results of Astronomical Observations made at the Cape of Good Hope - Titans

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