NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars have given thousands of unofficial nicknames to every boulder, pebble, and rock surface they study. These names help the team keep track of what they are finding each day and document their discoveries. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) approves official names on Mars, which are logged in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Craters larger than 37 miles are named after famous scientists or science-fiction authors, while smaller craters are named after towns with populations of less than 100,000 people. The Curiosity and Perseverance missions stick to nicknames based on terrestrial locations, with the latest quadrant themes being named after Roraima in Brazil and national parks, respectively.
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