LUNA

Luna is the Latin word for the Moon and the name of the Roman goddess who personifies it. In contemporary usage, Luna is also a given name and is used for the Moon in several Romance languages. The term appears in science, literature, and popular culture.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin luna, with possible roots in Proto-Italic, and is related to the English adjective lunar. In many languages, the Moon is referred to as luna or a variant of it; in English, the body is more commonly simply called the Moon.

Astronomy and space exploration: The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite. In Russian and other languages, the Moon is commonly called Luna. The Soviet space program conducted a series of lunar missions named Luna, beginning in 1959 with Luna 2 and Luna 3, which achieved the first human-made touchdowns on the Moon and first images of its far side, respectively.

Mythology: Luna is the goddess of the Moon in Roman mythology, counterpart to the Greek Selene. She is often depicted as driving a chariot across the night sky and is associated with light and tides.

Cultural usage: As a personal name, Luna is used for girls in many cultures and has appeared in literature and film. Notable fictional figures include Luna Lovegood of the Harry Potter series. The term also appears in brand names, place names, and as a surname in some cases.