Selenography
/ˌsɛlɪˈnɒɡrəfi/noun
The branch of astronomy that describes and maps the Moon's surface.
Did you know?Selenography comes from Greek roots meaning “moon” and “writing,” because early lunar maps were treated like a kind of celestial inscription rather than simple cartography.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Selḗnē (Σελήνη)
“the Moon; also the moon goddess”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-graphía (γραφία)
“writing; description; drawing; recording”
Late Greek / Scholarly Formation
Greek
selēnographía (σεληνογραφία)
“description or mapping of the Moon”
17th Century
Latin/European scholarly usage
selenographia
“a written or mapped description of the Moon”
Modern English
English
selenography
“the scientific description and mapping of the Moon's surface”
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