Hot Martian News: Craters Named for George Pál & Percy Greg

[beamjockey]

An announcement appearing on the United States Geological Survey Astrogeology site brings news from the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.Six New Names Approved for Features on MarsThe following names have been approved for features on Mars: Avarua, Dowa, Fitzroy, Greg, Pál, and Waikato Vallis. For

Comments

[stickmaker]

I didn't know that about the accent mark, either.

There needs to be a John Crater of Mars, just to confuse the dyslexic. :-)

[vnend]

Neat! Thanks for point this out and summarizing it.

And ditto on the congratulations to Clute and Nichols and the other folks involved in the Encyclopedia.

[peteralway]

A little googling reveals that Fitzroy, the town, was named after Fitzroy, the captain of the Beagle during Darwin's voyage.

[beamjockey]

So the geographical name is indirectly smuggling in an honor for someone with a role in the history of science. Good.

[henrytroup]

That's Robert Fitzroy (per Wikipedia.) There's also a Fitzroy township and village of Fitzroy Harbour, both near Ottawa, named after his half-brother, Charles Augustus FitzRoy.

[serge_lj]

George deserved no less.

[purpleranger]

Is there a Heinlein Crater on Mars? Since Ray Bradbury is still alive, I'm guessing a no on anything named for him.

[beamjockey]

1. Yes.

2. You're right.