Naming Martian Settlements - What would you suggest?

Phobos · 2002-05-18 13:27:30

If you were asked to suggest a name for a settlement on Mars what kind of name would you choose? I'm not quite sure what kind of name I'd suggest even though when I think of Mars I think of the ancient world for some reason. . Maybe I'd name it after Minoa, a technically advanced and peaceful people who lived on a tiny island and had practically no military and probably wish they did when the Mycenaens came to claim some real estate. Or maybe I'd suggest Timbuktu since it was a rugged sub-Sarahan city that became known as both a major educational and commercial center in ancient times. I think a Mars colony has the potential to turn into both once it grows large enough.

Adrian · 2002-05-19 03:55:41

I imagine we'll get all sorts of settlement names on Mars; after SF authors like Bradbury, Asimov, Clarke, Wells, Verne and so on; after space pioneers like Goddard, Tsiokovsky; after Earth cities, e.g. New London, New Washington; and of course after current Martian features, e.g. Olympus Point or North Argyre.

Should be fun seeing what the colonists decide though

clark · 2002-05-23 11:03:42

I know, Ranoke.

GOM · 2002-05-23 14:33:31

I imagine we'll get all sorts of settlement names on Mars; after SF authors like Bradbury, Asimov, Clarke, Wells, Verne and so on; after space pioneers like Goddard, Tsiokovsky; after Earth cities, e.g. New London, New Washington; and of course after current Martian features, e.g. Olympus Point or North Argyre.

What a good question!

I really like your ideas about the SF authors and the space pioneers!

I think Carl Sagan should also have something named after him. I think it was in his last book that he said we need to explore some of the unique features on Mars.

Josh Cryer · 2002-05-23 22:30:04

You know, the Pathfinder site was actually renamed to ?Sagan Memorial Station.? Sagan is my hero.

But anyway. I think we'll keep most of (if not all of) the names already associated with land areas. And I'm not sure as to whether or not scifi author names are taken, but it wouldn't surprise me if they already were. One thing that is going to be interesting is the naming of landmarks. I can't imagine the things we'll find once we start ground exploration.

But some of my favorite so far are the heart shaped formations. They make for good cute conversation with my gal friend.

http://mars3.jpl.nasa.gov:80/mgs....ex.html

(I didn't link just post the pictures here because whenever I do that I kill the thread, dunno why, heh.)

Phobos · 2002-05-24 22:01:44

I think the first dog in space was named Laika. And come to think of it, I think Laika's about overdue for some recognition of her role in spaceflight, so why not name a town after her . I just hope the settlers don't get carried away with naming towns after modern, well known cities on Earth. I think the names should be something that has a uniquely Martian air to them. I liked Adrian's idea of naming them after their Martian locations.

Christina · 2002-05-25 07:09:54

Well. if the first colonists there are anything like the colonists of 'new lands' here, we'll be seeing lots of familiar place names cropping up, maybe with New or Martian in front of them, maybe not.

Paris, France
Paris, Texas
Paris, Hellas Planitia.............?

There's lots of named features on Mars already. Perhaps name your village after the nearest one? Ah, but that would give us places called Kingston, Wilmington, Yorktown, Lexington, La Paz, Johannesburg and Houston again. Just going round in circles now!

Anton Kuratnik · 2002-05-25 12:49:33

SF authors is better. It's enough to have like 50 cities with the same name in the world. We don't need to trash Mars with them.

Phobos · 2002-05-25 12:50:28

It's probably safe to assume the names of Earth cities will be recycled if only for the reason that they are reminders of Earth and home itself. It would just somehow be depressing though to hop on top of a rocket and go to a whole new world only to land in someplace called "New Houston."

Adrian · 2002-05-25 14:46:01

Hah, I agree. Probably the recycled Earth cities will be those that evoke the most vivid memories in them; Paris, Venice, Hong Kong, Jerusalem(!), etc. I should probably have a look at my KSR books to see how he named his cities.

Palomar · 2002-05-31 13:11:03

Hmmmm. I actually dislike the thought of recycled Earth town names, i.e. "New Los Angeles" or something like that.

SF authors, astronauts, astronomers, scientists, visionaries -- yes, sounds marvellous. "Galileo Township," "Armstrong Station," etc.

And I've got to put in an honorable mention for my absolute hero Voltaire! "Voltaire Vista."

--Cindy

MS member since 6/01

Phobos · 2002-06-01 02:35:00

It would be interesting to see what kinds of linguistic changes take place in old established Mars colonies where there have been generations of native Martians born. I get the feeling that naming cities after old sci-fi authors will have no meaning for them, but that's looking way into the future, what the #### am I rambling about anyway, god it's late.

A.J.Armitage · 2002-09-18 17:14:11

I think the first settlement should be called Golconda, just because "Golconda" is so dang cool.

Palomar · 2002-09-19 09:04:03

I think the first settlement should be called Golconda, just because "Golconda" is so dang cool.

*May I ask how/where you found/came up with "Golconda" - ?

--Cindy

A.J.Armitage · 2002-09-19 18:14:07

Golconda was a fort in India. It's also the name of a small town in southern Illinois.

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-23 14:38:48

Skinnerville

The most successful Martian settlement will be named Skinnerville, in honor of behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner. The people of Skinnerville will all have read Skinner's "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" at least twice. They will all regard themselves as sociocultural systems engineers and they will have the skills to adapt to novel situations faster than any other people on Mars.;)

Scott

Byron · 2002-09-23 16:43:38

The most successful Martian settlement will be named Skinnerville, in honor of behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner. The people of Skinnerville will all have read Skinner's "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" at least twice. They will all regard themselves as sociocultural systems engineers and they will have the skills to adapt to novel situations faster than any other people on Mars.;)

You seem awfully sure of this, Scott... :-)

I seriously doubt that the early settlers to Mars will be all sociocultural systems engineers, wouldn't we need people like construction specialists, life support engineers and food production workers? Just thinking in practical terms here...

Personally, I think the first permanent settlement should be called First Landing, in honor of the first humans to land on Mars...

B

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-23 16:54:11

You seem awfully sure of this, Scott... :-)

Byron:

I am not just sure of it; I'm absolutely positive. The adult members of Skinnerville will all be graduates of the high school in Clarkeville (the first prototype Martian settlement). They will have studied cultural evolution and cultural design and sociocultural systems engineering. These studies will be part of the REQUIRED high school curriculum. After graduation from high school, they will be become farmers, bakers, physicians, barbers, etc.

Scott

A.J.Armitage · 2002-09-24 03:08:02

Scott;

Suppose they decide to call it "Skinnertown". Will that screw up your elaborate sociocultural designs?

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-24 11:37:03

Suppose they decide to call it "Skinnertown". Will that screw up your elaborate sociocultural designs?

A.J.

Skinnertown would be okay; Bartertown would be a pooper.

Scott

Phobos · 2002-09-24 20:00:44

Skinnerville
The most successful Martian settlement will be named Skinnerville, in honor of behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner. The people of Skinnerville will all have read Skinner's "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" at least twice. They will all regard themselves as sociocultural systems engineers and they will have the skills to adapt to novel situations faster than any other people on Mars.;)
Scott

Sometimes I wish Dr. Skinner had a different last name. Everytime someone mentions the "skinnerbox" my skin starts to creep from the images such a word conjures.

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-25 17:36:33

Sometimes I wish Dr. Skinner had a different last name. Everytime someone mentions the "skinnerbox" my skin starts to creep from the images such a word conjures.

Phobos:

The next time you read the name "Skinner," imagine that you are in a Skinnerbox with a 1 hour timer lock on the exit door. You are trapped for one hour. Also imagine that the box has a lever that you can push down and that a 1-ounce pure gold coin rolls out of a slot each time that you push the lever down. You will want to be wearing clothes that have lots of big pockets. You've got one hour. Good luck!

Scott

Phobos · 2002-09-25 18:03:38

The next time you read the name "Skinner," imagine that you are in a Skinnerbox with a 1 hour timer lock on the exit door. You are trapped for one hour. Also imagine that the box has a lever that you can push down and that a 1-ounce pure gold coin rolls out of a slot each time that you push the lever down. You will want to be wearing clothes that have lots of big pockets. You've got one hour. Good luck!
Scott

LOL, it might change those images in my head but I'm not sure if I could bring myself to step into something called a skinnerbox in the first place! :0

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-25 20:55:59

...I'm not sure if I could bring myself to step into something called a skinnerbox in the first place!

Phobos:

You don't just walk into a Skinnerbox. You go to bed one night as usual, in your own cozy bed. Then you wake up on the cold, hard floor of the box. EeeeeeK!

So be prepared. Get a set of pajamas with lots of big pockets.

Scott G. Beach · 2002-10-11 16:00:57

Reuters news service has reported the discovery of a marble plaque that bears the ancient name of the city of London. According to the report, "The Italian marble plaque, found in the Southwark area of London at the junction of three key Roman roads, is dedicated to the Roman emperors and the god Mars..."

Londinium is a good name for a Martian settlement.

Scott

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Re: Naming Martian Settlements - What would you suggest?

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