# So what is our sun really called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092 "2003-04-25T12:23:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tradnor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@Tradnor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tradnor)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/21 "2003-04-26T01:38:41Z")
The official names of celestial bodies are determined by the [International Astronomical Union](http://www.iau.org/). They look down on companies selling star names, and your idea seems like the same sort of thing. According to the IAU, the official names of the bodies discussed here are Earth, Moon, and Sun. Names such as Terra, Luna, and Sol are not official. ---
**Author:** ![LanceUSMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@LanceUSMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LanceUSMC)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/22 "2003-04-26T01:46:04Z")
My son calls it Sol. But his mother speaks to him in Spanglish and tells him not to look directly into el sol (Spanish for sun). Moon=Luna. I hardly ever understand the little one. Damn Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/23 "2003-04-26T02:22:44Z")
The rain is Tess, the fire’s Joe and they call the wind Maria. I’ll check back to see if they have a name for the sun. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/24 "2003-04-26T02:30:09Z")
I thought our planet was named Gaia? Then again, since we’re terrestrial creatures, then Terra is the correct name. But wait, we’re humans, so shouldn’t our planet’s name be Huma? Oh, no, waitasec, we’re Earthlings to the extraterrestrials so Terra Firma is Earth! ## Peace. Hi, I’m a human being, and I come from Helios-3. ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/25 "2003-04-26T03:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*The rain is Tess, > the fire’s Joe > and they call the wind Maria. > > I’ll check back to see if they have a name for the sun. \*\* Now that you mention it, the Sun’s name must have been “Always Shinin’”: > [@](#): > > Before I knew Mariahs’ name and heard her wail and whinin’ > I had a girl and she had me and the sun was always shinin’ ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/26 "2003-04-26T04:10:36Z")
Not that I seriously believe this will ever happen, but what happens if we colonize the solar system, and the sun’s just a bland yellow star in a constellation can we look at from there? It’s more of a GD, I suppose, but it’s interesting to me whether our great-great-grandchildren would still call it “The Sun” when it’s just a little star you have to squint to see. And would they call the new solar system’s principle, for example, “Ceti Alpha”? And the new world “Ceti Alpha V”? If not… if the sun is always the big bright object in the daytime sky, no matter where you are, don’t we need a name for the sun that would stick from any point of view? Isn’t it kinda darned heliocentric to do otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/27 "2003-04-26T04:42:41Z")
Wouldn’t the naming rights to the moon belong to the guy who owns it? [http://www.planetaryinvestments.com/](http://www.planetaryinvestments.com/) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/28 "2003-04-26T04:53:29Z")
i think the generic term moon (for example) comes from the similarity of other moons to our own Moon. like wise i think colonist of a planet orbiting alpha centari would call it a sun, but back here on good old earth we would call our source of light the Sun, or maybe not. they might just call it the star. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/29 "2003-04-26T04:56:30Z")
When or if we ever start colonizing enough to need to make the distinction, I suspect we will use Sol and Luna and Earth as proper names, and sun and moon and planet/world as generic terms. A sun will be the primary star (or stars) of your system. Not because Sol and Luna mean anything different than Sun and Moon, but because we’ve used sun and moon so generically that it will be easier to accept a distinct name. Earth pretty much is accepted in common usage as a proper name, with planet the more general term. Then again, we have to redefine what a planet is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/30 "2003-04-26T05:39:20Z")
Staff Report: [What is the proper name for the sun?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msunname.html) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/31 "2003-04-26T06:25:28Z")
> [@](#): > > _from that Staff Report_ > Chaucer writes “Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe.” This would appear to be metaphorical, but the OED credits gold and silver as actual, obsolete definitions for Sol and Luna. That started in alchemical writings. Classically, there were 7 known metals and 7 astrological planets. These were equated and alchemists routinely wrote the Latin name of the planet when talking about the metal. In fact, that’s why quicksilver’s name was changed to mercury. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Polycarp_ > Since most astronomical names are derived from or constructed to be Latin (with the occasional Greek and Arabic interloper), Most of the named stars have Arabic names, not just the occasional interloper. The planets have Latin names, but I think most of the satellites are Greek. Except for Uranus’s satellites which are Shakespearean. So if we’re following these traditions, we’d find out what the Arabs call the sun and give it that name. Ditto for the moon and its Greek name, which is Selene, I believe. Terra is the Latin name for “earth, land”; _orbis terrarum_ meant “the whole world”. _Tellus_ also meant the whole world. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/32 "2003-04-26T10:42:18Z")
> [@](#): > > _From the Staff Report_ > However, hidebound by tradition as we are, you generally only see scientists, nerds, and science fiction fanboys - wait, I’m being redundant. I could be wrong, but I can’t think of a modern scientist ever calling it Sol in any textbook, article, or presentation. Ditto Luna. It’s always the sun, or the Sun. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/33 "2003-04-26T13:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Engywook \* > \*\*Not that I seriously believe this will ever happen, but what happens if we colonize the solar system, and the sun’s just a bland yellow star in a constellation can we look at from there? > \*\* I think you’d be hard pressed to find a constellation that would include a naked-eye Sun. From what I understand, the Sun’s not all that impressive an object and isn’t really visible from a few light-years out. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/34 "2003-04-26T18:17:14Z")
Lay some Arabic star names on me. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/35 "2003-04-26T21:17:31Z")
OK. **Achernar** From Arabic ‘end of the river’ referring to Eridanus **Betelguese** Arm pit (really) of the hunter (Orion) **Rigel** Foot (again of Orion) **Deneb** Tail of the hen ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/36 "2003-04-26T22:50:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by asterion \* > I think you’d be hard pressed to find a constellation that would include a naked-eye Sun. From what I understand, the Sun’s not all that impressive an object and isn’t really visible from a few light-years out. Depends on your definition of “few”. Within about 6 to 8 lightyears, the sun would be one of the brightest stars in the sky. IIRC, its absolute magnitude is 4.4, which means it will be naked-eye visible, although not very bright, at 33 lightyears (10 parsecs). ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/37 "2003-04-26T23:02:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drhess \* > \*\*Lay some Arabic star names on me. \*\* Algol (Beta Persei) translates as “demon star” because it is a naked-eye variable. Alphard (Alpha Hydrae) Alphecca (Alpha Coronae Borealis) Altair (Alpha Aquilae) und so weiter… (and _MonkeyMensch_ types faster than I do ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/38 "2003-04-27T00:17:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JanetReno.is.hot \* > \*\*:dubious: > I think we should come up with a new name for the sun and moon. After all, we dont go around calling Earth “Planet” \*\* No, we just call it “ground,” or “dirt.” Seriously, of the few other languages I know much of, the word for the planet we live on is the word for the ground. Or for dirt. We don’t call them “earthworms” because they’re not from Alpha Centauri, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/39 "2003-04-27T01:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bren\_Cameron \* > \*\*We don’t call them “earthworms” because they’re not from Alpha Centauri, you know. \*\* LOL 🙂 Thanks for the laugh. Seriously, though, I can vouch for German and Spanish. Same deal. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092/40 "2003-04-27T01:29:35Z")
Mailbag: [Do other languages call Earth “Earth”?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mearth.html) Except it’s not all that helpful. Too much condecension, not enough understanding. There was a thread on the topic if you want to look it up. **moriah** said: > [@](#): > > I thought our planet was named Gaia? Nah, only metaphysical religious nuts call it Gaia. **dtilque** said: > [@](#): > > _Tellus_ also meant the whole world. Thank you! In the Doc Smith book series of _The Lensman_, Earth is referred to as _Tellus_. I always wondered where he got that, considering every other science fiction author in the known universe (or so it seems) calls it _Terra_\*. Now I know. \*Except Asimov, who calls it _Dirt_. Gotta love that Asimov. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-our-sun-really-called/171092.md?page=3)