International Astronomical Union

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations and names to celestial bodies and surface features on them. It also resolves issues of astronomical nomenclature. The IAU is in the news currently due to discussions surrounding the Artemis II mission and the naming of a lunar crater by the astronauts after the commander's late wife. This highlights the IAU's role in officially recognizing and standardizing such names. Additionally, the IAU's definition of a 'planet' is relevant in discussions about celestial bodies, as exemplified by a recent article referencing the game Super Mario Galaxy and questioning whether the game's celestial bodies fit the IAU's definition of a planet. The IAU's work ensures clarity and consistency in astronomical communication and research.