IAU Transactions XXVIA
(the following is excerpted from the on-line version of the IAU Transactions XXVIA)
Contents
Proceedings IAU Symposium No. XXVIA, 2006
O. Engvold (ed.)
© 2007 International Astronomical Union
doi:10.1017/S1743921306004480
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Working Group on Planetary Systems Nomenclature (WGPSN)
CHAIRPERSON: Kaare Aksnes Aksnes
MEMBERS: J. Blue, J. Blunck, G.A. Burba, G. Consolmagno, M.Ya. Marov, B.G. Marsden, T.C. Owen, M. Robinson, V.V. Shevchenko, R. Schulz, B.A. Smith, and I. P. Williams
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2. New Nomenclature
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More than 7000 small craters on the Moon have been marked on maps by letters surrounding the names of bigger craters. Such lettered craters were approved by the IAU in 1964 but revoked in 1973. Despite this, Lunar scientists strongly support IAU approval for the lettered craters which are widely used and well entrenched in the literature; they appear in the 1982 NASA Catalog of Lunar Nomenclature and can be seen, e.g., in the 2004 Clementine Atlas of the Moon. The WGPSN decided to reinstitute the lettered craters which will be incorporated into the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
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3. Changes in WGPSN Rules and Guidelines
At Hardingasete a thorough review was made of the way in which the WG and TG’s are appointed and operate, and of the guidelines for assigning new nomenclature to the planetary bodies. The details can be found on the afore-mentioned web site. The lack of response from some WG and TG members to e-mails is of concern. This has made it necessary to adopt more specific rules for appointment and dismissal of WG and TG members and for their obligations:
- The WG chair and WG members are appointed by the IAU Division III.
- The WG chair is the final authority in all nomenclature proposals and bases his/her decision on advice from the WG membership.
- New members of the WG should make themselves fully aware of all nomenclature rules and guidelines of the WG and of each of the TG’s. The WG chair shall assure that all new members are so notified.
- TG chairs are appointed by the WG chair.
- TG members are appointed by the WG chair in consultation with the TG chair.
- TG’s operate as consultants to the WG. The WG is under no formal obligation to accept the recommendations of TG’s and, when deemed necessary, can adopt nomenclature without consulting the TG’s.
- New members of the TG’s should make themselves fully aware of all rules and guidelines relating to their TG’s. The TG chair shall assure that all new members are so notified.
- The WG chair shall conduct an annual review of all TG chairs for their level of participation. TG chairs who are unwilling or unable to carry out their responsibilities will be replaced by the WG chair with an acting chair until such time that the problem can be resolved or a permanent replacement can be appointed.
- The WG chair shall conduct an annual review of all TG members in consultation with the TG chairs. Non-responsive TG members will be given a warning by the WG chair. TG members who remain unresponsive will be replaced by the WG chair in consultation with the TG chair.
K. Aksnes
Chairperson of the Working Group
note: a list of the 7000 new names does not appear in the on-line transactions. They can be found based on the "approval date" field in the IAU Planetary Gazetteer.- Jim Mosher
