There are currently 2 planets that start with W. Both of them 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadirum | Petra (WASP-80) | 196 | 2013 | Largest valley in Jordan |
| Wangshu | Xihe (HD 173416) | 440 | 2009 | Chinese goddess of the Moon |
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: