I dunno but I haaaaaaate it. Scifi likes to use Latin words for Earth, the Moon, and the Sun because I think they don't realize that those are actually the official names and not just descriptors. I've gotten into so many arguments about this I know how to pull up the IAU names page so fast.
I thought them being official names was the point? Either that or "we've defaulted to a dead language in a spirit of cooperation among the living ones" but that seems sort of unthinkingly eurocentric in its way
The official names are just "Earth", "The Moon", and "The Sun". Names are voted on by the IAU which is comprised of astronomers from all over the world. Theyre also the ones that voted to make a new object definition for Pluto & similar bodies which is probably the last time people have heard of em.
Okay then I completely misread your post, sorry
Nah you're fine :) it's not a serious topic lol, I just have some ranty opinions cause I'm a space nerd lol
Okay, but it seems really weird to be standing on an alien planet, and say "the Sun" and mean anything other than the star directly overhead. At which point you need a name to refer to the system you and I live in. Given the objections to "Sol" (and Terra), what alternative might you propose?
Contexts clues. Same way you know when you're talking about America the continent(s) and the nation. Also stars have names so you'd just refer to it as the name instead of that one as the sun. With writing it's real easy cause capitalization too
But that is super Earth-centric. How would you call our Solar System if you're standing on a station orbiting Alpha Centauri, speaking to a Centauri patriot?
The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the authority on celestial body names, uses the English name "Earth" for English-language communications but does not dictate a single official name.
Yeah see I agree with you
Thank youuuuu, so many people insist on the made up names and I don't get it.
(and by made up names I mean made up by scifi authors, I know all language is made up)