List of adjectivals and demonyms of astronomical bodies


The adjectival forms of the names of astronomical bodies are not always easily predictable. Attested adjectival forms of the larger bodies are listed below, along with the two small Martian moons; in some cases they are accompanied by their demonymic equivalents, which denote hypothetical inhabitants of these bodies.
For Classical names, the adjectival and demonym forms normally derive from the oblique stem, which may differ from the nominative form used in English for the noun form. For instance, for a large portion of names ending in -s, the oblique stem and therefore the English adjective changes the -s to a -d, -t, or -r, as in Mars-Martian, Pallas-Palladian and Ceres-Cererian;
occasionally an -n has been lost historically from the nominative form, and reappears in the oblique and therefor in the English adjective, as in Pluto-Plutonian and Atlas–Atlantean.
Many of the more recent or more obscure names are only attested in mythological or literary contexts, rather than in specifically astronomical contexts. Forms ending in -ish or -ine, such as "Puckish", are not included below if a derivation in -an is also attested. Rare forms, or forms only attested with spellings not in keeping with the IAU-approved spelling, are shown in italics.
;Note on pronunciation
The suffix -ian is always unstressed: that is,. The related ending -ean, from an e in the root plus a suffix -an, has traditionally been stressed if the e is long ē in Latin ; but if the e is short in Latin, the suffix is pronounced the same as -ian. In practice forms ending in -ean may be pronounced as if they were spelled -ian even if the e is long in Latin. This dichotomy should be familiar from the dual pronunciations of Caribbean as and .

Generic bodies

Constellations

Derivative forms of constellations are used primarily for meteor showers. The genitive forms of the constellations are used to name stars. Other adjectival forms are less common.
NameAdjectiveDerivative
AndromedaAndromedanAndromedid
AquariusAquarianAquariid
AriesArianArietid
AurigaAuˈrigalAurigid
BootesBootid
CancerCanˈcerianCancrid
CarinaCaˈrinalCarinid
CapricornCapricornianCapricornid
CentaurusCentaurean, CentaurianCentaurid
CetusCetid
Coma BerenicesComalComa Berenicid
Corona AustrinaCoronalCorona Austrinid
CruxCrucialCrucid
CygnusCygneanCygnid
DoradoDoradid
DracoDraconicDraconid
EridanusEridanid
GeminiGeminianGeminid
Hydra, HydrusHydrid
LeoLeonic, Leonian, LeoneanLeonid
Leo MinorLeo Minorid
LibraLibranLibrid
LyraLyrid
MonocerosMonocerotid
NormaNormid
OphiuchusOphiuchid
OrionOrionid
PavoPavonid
PegasusPegasean, PegasarianPegasid
PerseusPerseid
PhoenixPhoeniceanPhoenicid
PiscesPiscean, PiscianPiscid
Piscis AustrinusPiscis Austrinid
PuppisPuppid
SagittariusSagittarianSagittariid
ScorpiusScorpian, ScorpionicScorpiid
TaurusTaurean, TaurianTaurid
Ursa Major, Ursa MinorUrsalUrsid
VelaVelar, VelicVelid
VirgoVirginal, VirginianVirginid
zodiaczodiacal

Sun

Planets

Moons

NameAdjective, demonym
CallistoCallistoan, Callistonian
EuropaEuropan
GanymedeGanymedean, Ganymedian
IoIonian

NameAdjective, demonym
DioneDionean
EnceladusEnceladean, Enceladan
IapetusIapetian, Japetian
MimasMimantean, Mimantian,
RheaRhean
TethysTethyan
TitanTitanian, Titanean

NameAdjective, demonym
ArielArielian
MirandaMirandan, Mirandian
OberonOberonian
TitaniaTitanian
UmbrielUmbrielian

NameAdjective, demonym
TritonTritonian
CharonCharonian
DysnomiaDysnomian

Galaxies