There are currently 13 planets that start with S. One of them is Saturn and the others are found outside the Solar system. The organization in charge of naming these planets is the International Astronomical Union.
Unlike stars and constellations whose names come mostly from Greek mythology or Arabic words, planets get their names from many different cultures.
Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:
Planet: Name of the planet or exoplanet. Exoplanets are outside the Solar system and only a few of them receive proper names. Every few years the International Astronomical Union opens a contest to suggest names for newly discovered ones.
Star: The proper name and/or scientific designation of the star the planet orbits. Most of the stars with planets that receive proper names also get one.
Distance: Approximate distance from our Solar system to the star that hosts the planet. It is given in light-years.
Discovery: Year of discovery of the planet.
Meaning: Origin of the name of the planet.
| Planet | Star | Distance | Discovery | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saffar | Titawin (Upsilon Andromedae) | 44 | 1996 | Muslim astronomer |
| Samagiya | Sāmaya (HD 205739) | 295 | 2008 | “togetherness/unity” in the Sinhalese language (Sri Lanka) |
| Samh | Titawin (Upsilon Andromedae) | 44 | 1999 | Muslim astronomer |
| Sancho | Cervantes (Mu Arae) | 50 | 2006 | Character from Don Quixote |
| Santamasa | Bibhā (HD 86081 A) | 297 | 2006 | “clouded” in Sanskrit |
| Saturn | Sun | 0 | Roman equivalent to the Greek god Cronus | |
| Sazum | Formosa (HD 100655) | 398 | 2011 | Traditional name of Yuchi Township in Nantou County, Taiwan |
| Sissi | Franz (HAT-P-14) | 669 | 2010 | Character from the 1955 Austrian film “Sissi” |
| Smertrios | Ogma (HD 149026) | 257 | 2005 | Gallic god of war |
| Spe | Veritate (14 Andromedae) | 249 | 2008 | “Hope” (Latin) |
| Staburags | Liesma (HD 118203) | 289 | 2005 | Rock with symbolic meaning from Latvian poem Staburags un Liesma |
| Sumajmajta | Inquill (HD 156411) | 180 | 2009 | Character from Way to the Sun by Peruvian writer Abraham Valdelomar |
| Surt | Muspelheim (HAT-P-29) | 1050 | 2011 | Ruler of Muspelheim in Norse mythology |
This list does not include minor planets and planetoids as those are generally just named by using the last name of the person who discovered them.
Find more planet names with the letter: