From: "Strong, Lee" <StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL>
To: "WSFAList (E-mail)" <WSFAList at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Mooning Jupiter
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 13:35:55 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

	Ron Keane suggests numbering moons rather than naming them because
we might run out of names.  Actually, moons are numbered initially and named
later, generally according to patterns selected by the International
Astronomical Union.  The numbers are (year of discovery) (first letter of
the planet's name) (numerical sequence within the year).  Therefore, the
18th moon discovered in 2003 will be initially known as "good old 2003J18".
Jovan moons are generally named for female Greek mythical figures associated
with Zeus/Jupiter.  Given the number of girlfriends that Zeus had, it'll be
quite some time before we run out of names.
	Wade Lynch is concerned that Jupiter is hogging all the moons and
suggests sharing the wealth.  If the Solar System's 100+ moons were
distributed evenly, Earth would have 12+.  In that case, I don't want to
live anywhere near the seacoast when the tide comes in.
	Eric Jablow states that the stoopidity award goes to a website
explaining the astrological influence of the minor planet Cruithne.  Better
make this an annual award.  Every time astronomers discover an interesting
new planet, astrologers discover the astrological influence of the same.
For some reason, there is no known case of astrologers accurately predicting
the existence of a planet by analyzing the fundamental force of astrology as
astronomers have accurately predicted the existence of a planet by analyzing
the fundamental force of astronomy (i.e. gravity).