Venus, Earth’s fiery twin, is the only planet where geography is a girls’ club. By decree of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), every crater, mountain, and valley on Venus must be named after a notable woman—real, mythological, or fictional. From ancient goddesses to Soviet cosmonauts, the planet’s surface is a celestial roll call of female achievement. Take that, Mars.
This naming tradition began in the 1960s, when Soviet and American probes started mapping Venus’s harsh landscape. Since the planet itself is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, the IAU decided to extend the theme. Today, over 90% of its 1,600+ recognized features honor women. The rules are strict: craters larger than 20 km bear the names of historical or mythological women (Cleopatra, Hypatia), while smaller ones get common female first names (Janet, Zina). Even volcanic plains are named after love deities, like the Sedna Planitia, inspired by the Inuit goddess of the sea.
The result is a planetary feminist utopia. Venus boasts the Mead Crater (anthropologist Margaret Mead), the Ride Crater (astronaut Sally Ride), and even the Montague Crater (Lady Montague, an 18th-century smallpox vaccine pioneer). Mythological figures like Freyja (Norse goddess of war) and Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of wealth) also make appearances. The only exceptions? Three regions named after Greek love goddesses—Alpha, Beta, and Regio—because patriarchy loses even in space.
The Soviet Union, which mapped much of Venus via its Venera missions, added its own flair. Features like the Akiko Crater (Japanese astronaut Chiaki Mukai) and the Valentina Tereshkova Crater (first woman in space) nod to global contributions. Even fictional heroines get love: there’s a Rebecca Crater (from Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe) and a Juliet Crater (Shakespeare’s star-crossed lover).
But why the female-only rule? Venus’s thick, hostile atmosphere—a metaphor for the historical challenges women faced—made it a fitting tribute. As astronomer Phil Stooke quipped, “If Venus is hell, at least it’s a hell run by women.” The tradition also contrasts sharply with other planets: Mars’s landmarks honor male scientists, writers, and explorers, while Mercury’s craters bear the names of artists and musicians, regardless of gender.
Not everyone’s a fan. Critics argue the rule is exclusionary, but the IAU holds firm. After all, Venus’s surface temperatures (462°C) and sulfuric acid clouds don’t exactly scream “inclusivity.” Besides, with only 8% of Earth’s landmarks named after women, Venus is winning the equality race by light-years.
So, next time you gaze at Venus, remember: it’s a world where women literally shaped the landscape. And if you ever feel overshadowed, just think of the Mead Crater—proof that even in the harshest environments, female legacies endure. Just don’t pack your bags for a visit. The weather’s terrible, and the dress code is strictly acid-resistant.
