Nick Kanas, M.D.
In the history of astronomy, there have been a number of instances where the naming of an object was made with great difficulty and resulted in controversy. These astronomical naming controversies can be categorized into four types: classification, theoretical, political, and religious. They have involved the Moon, the planets, the constellations, and the nebulae:
Lunar Naming Controversies: Hevelius vs Riccioli (classification type)
Planetary Naming Controversies:
Schiaparelli’s canals (theoretical type)
Naming of Uranus (political type)
Naming of Neptune (political type)
Constellation Naming Controversies:
Noctua the Owl (classification type)
Honores Friederici (political type)
Schiller’s Christianized heavens (religious type)
Nebular Naming Controversies: What are nebula? (theoretical type)
Specific examples will be illustrated from photographs, prints, and books from my collection of antiquarian celestial maps and books.