Naming planets may seem a frivolous topic; yet when measured against the immensity of space, time and what happens there, what topic does not seem small by comparison?
Naming planets should not be the privilege only of the ancients, but of moderns too! Surely, we
should name at least one planet after each conservative radio talk show host, so great are their contributions to science and civilization
(just ask them!)
Or on a lighter side (my head is ever so full of helium today), we could name them based upon our possible aspirations there. Mars might be named Modernia since only modern technologies will allow us to live there.
Venus might be called Hot!Hot!Hot! after Carl Sagan's prediction about its surface conditions was proven correct and because it's a jazzy romantic topic area.
Jupiter could be "Little Starling" because it has its own orbiting "planets" and its hugeness and inhospitableness is so annoying, but we still love it anyway.
Pluto is surely "Little Lonelyville"; Mercury is "Roasted Rock"; Saturn is "Land of the Granular Bands" and well, I should let someone else name a few.
Do you happen to know who named the Pleiades'
mythological Seven Sisters back in Greek times?
What human being actually made these names and who made them stick?
Do I know any Martians, you ask. Well, this web site is not really the place to make wild claims. I can only say that Earth is deep in outer space and we are fortunate to live here!