New York (6 July 2009 LT) — Luna Society International has announced that a crater on Earth’s Moon will be renamed “Michael Joseph Jackson” in honor of the celebrated King of Pop, who passed away on June 25, 2009.
The crater, previously designated as Posidonius J, is located in the Moon’s Lake of Dreams (Lacus Somniorum). It measures approximately 22 kilometers (about 13.5 miles) in diameter, and is located adjacent to a 1,200-acre parcel owned by Michael Jackson in the Lake of Dreams.
The decision to designate the crater in Jackson’s honor came following a special session of the Luna Society’s governing board on Monday. The designation proposal had been widely suggested during the week by fans and society members following the King of Pop’s untimely and unfortunate passing last month.
Michael Jackson (1958-2009) was among the largest private owners of Lunar property claims. In addition to his significant parcel in the Lake Of Dreams, which he obtained in 2005, he also owned a smaller property in the Sea Of Vapours (Mare Vaporum).
The crater shall be officially designated as “Michael Joseph Jackson” in order to differentiate it from the existing “Jackson,” a 71-kilometer crater on the Lunar farside named for the renowned Scottish astronomer John Jackson (1887-1958; it is noted, coincidentally, that John Jackson died the same year that Michael Jackson was born).
Michael Jackson’s Connection to the Moon
Often in his life, Michael Jackson incorporated the Moon and its symbology, from his trademark “moonwalk” dance move to the official seal of his beloved Neverland Ranch.
“Moonwalk” was also the title of his best-selling 1988 autobiography, while “Moonwalker” was the title of a popular compilation of his greatest music video performances. He also recorded a song, “Scared Of The Moon,” which has not been released commercially as of this date.
Michael Jackson claimed that he had once witnessed a UFO during a plane flight. His interest in outer space, extraterrestrials, and his plan to someday actually perform the “moonwalk” dance move on the Moon were detailed in Michael C. Luckman’s “Alien Rock: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Extraterrestrial Connection,” published by Pocket Books and VH1, which devoted an entire chapter to the superstar.
About Michael Jackson Crater
Crater Michael Joseph Jackson is part of the Posidonius crater group, named for Posidonius of Apameia, a Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian and teacher native to Apamea, Syria.
Crater Michael Joseph Jackson is the largest of the so-called “satellite craters” in the group, which numbers twelve in total, ranging in size from two to fifteen kilometers in diameter.
Under the naming system of Félix Chemla Lamèch, Posidonius J was once also known as Héllène. The designation to honor Michael Jackson becomes effective immediately.
The official designation of a Lunar crater is a singular honor bestowed upon only a select few luminaries. Among those receiving this rare tribute over the past century are Leonardo da Vinci, Christopher Columbus, Sir Isaac Newton, Julius Caesar and Jules Verne.
About Luna Society International
Luna Society International is the world’s largest and most prominent group advocating privatized exploration, settlement and development of Earth’s Moon. The centerpiece of the Society’s effort is its program to return humans to the Moon and establish permanent bases there.
The Society has also developed the most successful commercially-available lunar photomap software ever released to the public, the Full Moon Atlas, and successfully advocated the removal of a crater named for an accused Nazi war criminal, Dr. Hans Eppinger, Jr., by the International Astronomical Union.
The Society was the prime mover behind the proposal to designate a group of Lunar craters as a memorial to the seven crew members who perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) tragedy.
UPDATE: In response to numerous inquiries, it should be noted that craters Michael Jackson, Posidonius and the other larger craters in the Posidonius group may generally be viewed from Earth using a typical home telescope under standard observational conditions.
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Information Summary
Eponym: Michael Joseph Jackson (29 August 1958 – 25 June 2009)
Honorific: “Moonwalker Crater”
Approval Date: 6 July 2009 (UTC)
Previous IAU Designation: Posidonius J
Latitude: 33.777°
Longitude: 30.793°
Diameter: 22.000 km
Crater Depth: 650 meters
Region: Posidonius Highlands near Lacus Somniorum
Lunar QuickMap URL: https://bit.ly/4cbAujm
Crater Catalogue ID: S002614N06398R05742H02199Y2010S
Michael Jackson Crater Web Links
Here are some websites that covered the naming of the Moon crater in honor of Michael Jackson:
🌙 Michael Jackson World Network (MJWN)
- Moon Crater Named After Michael Jackson
- This article details the announcement by the Lunar Geographic Society and mentions the crater’s proximity to Michael Jackson’s property on the Moon. The article also highlights the significance of this tribute to Jackson’s legacy and his connection to lunar themes.
🌙 Michael Jackson World Network (MJWN)
- Michael Jackson’s Crater On The Moon
- Another article from MJWN provides a detailed account of the renaming event, noting the crater’s size and location in the Moon’s Lake of Dreams. The article explains the decision-making process and Jackson’s interest in the Moon.
🌙 Economic Times
- Moon Crater Named After Michael Jackson
- This article covers the announcement and provides background information on the Lunar Geographic Society’s decision to rename the crater. It also emphasizes Jackson’s influence and his connection to lunar imagery.
🌙 The Telegraph (UK)
- Moon crater named after Michael Jackson
- The Telegraph article discusses the details of the renaming and provides insights into Michael Jackson’s ownership of lunar property and his lasting influence.
🌙 Hindustan Times
- Moon’s crater named after ‘Moonwalker’ Michael Jackson
- This article highlights the renaming event and its significance as an out-of-the-world tribute to the King of Pop, explaining the impact of Jackson’s death on his fans and the lunar naming decision.
