Ceres is a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt that lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has adopted two themes for naming surface features on Ceres: agricultural deities for craters and agricultural festivals for everything else.
As of 2020, the IAU has approved names for 151 geological features on Ceres: craters, montes, catenae, rupēs, plana, tholi, planitiae, fossae and sulci. In July 2018, NASA released a comparison of physical features found on Ceres with similar ones present on Earth.
Piazzi, named after Giuseppe Piazzi, the discoverer of Ceres, is a dark region southwest of Dantu crater in ground-based images that was named before Dawn arrived at Ceres.
Overview of features
Catenae Feature Named after Diameter (km) Image Baltay Catena Baltai, a Mordvin (Mordvinian) agricultural festival in the Volga River region of Russia 83.5 Gerber Catena Gerber, a Udmurt (Volga-Ural region, Russia) agricultural festival after the spring sowing in June 100 Junina Catenae Festa Junina, Brazilian festival with a rural theme held in June at the end of the rainy season to give thanks for fertile rain 263 Pongal Catena Thai Pongal, Tamil harvest festival observed in mid-January, a time to give thanks to nature 95.5 Samhain CatenaeName changed from Samhain Catena (singular) to Samhain Catenae (plural) and boundary expanded from 168 km to 715 km. Samhain, the Gaelic festival at the end of the harvest season, which was observed in Ireland and Scotland during seven days in October and November, nearly halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice 715 Uhola Catenae Uhola, a Nigerian (Zuru) harvest festival 400
Craters Ceres is saturated with impact craters. Many have a central pit or bright spot.
In the first batch of 17 names approved by the IAU, craters north of 20° north latitude had names beginning with A–G (with Asari being the furthest north), those between 20° north and south latitude beginning with H–R, and those further south beginning with S–Z (with Zadeni being the furthest south).
Feature Named after Diameter (km) Image Abellio Abellio, Gaul (Celtic) god of the apple tree 32 Achita Achita, a Tiv god of agriculture (Close-up Image-1) 40 Annona Annona, Roman goddess of crops and of the harvest 60 Anura Anura, a Arawak (Guyana) spirit of the tobacco seeds 37 Aristaeus Aristaeus, Greek god of agriculture 35.8 Asari Asari, an Assyrian god of agriculture(in the image at right, Asari is just above center) 56 Attis Attis, Greek and Phrygian god of vegetation and of fertility 22 Axomama Axomamma, an Incan goddess of potatoes 5 Azacca Azaka Medeh, Haitian loa of agriculture (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2) 49.91 Begbalel Bagbalel, a Yapese guardian of the taro fields who controls the yield of the crops 102 Belun Belun, a Belarusian god of the fields 36.04 Besua Besuā, a minor Egyptian grain god 17 Bilwis Bilwis, a German corn spirit 7 Binayo Binayo, a Mangyan female spirit, caretaker of rice spirits 16 Bonsu Bonsu, a Batek god who watches over the fruits and flowers 31 Braciaca Celtic mythology god of malt 8 Cacaguat Nicaraguan god of cacao 13.6 Centeotl Centeotl, Aztec god of maize and agriculture 6 Chaminuka Shona (Zimbabwe) spirit who provides rains in times of droughts (Close-up Image) 122 Coniraya Coniraya, Inca lunar deity responsible for agricultural terracing and irrigation 135 Consus Consus, ancient Roman agricultural god who watched over the harvested and stored crop. 64 Cozobi Cozobi, Zapotec (south Mexico) god of maize and of abundant food 24 Dada Nigerian god of vegetables 12 Damia Greek goddess of the cornfields and crops 7 Dantu Dantu, Ga god associated with the planting of grain (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4) 126 Darzamat Dārza māte; Latvian deity, 'mother of the garden' 92 Datan Polish god of the tilling of the soil (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5) 60 Dikhan Dikhan baba; Kazakh pre-Islamic deity of farming 21 Doliku Dahomeyan (Benin) god of the fields 15 Duginavi Kogi (northern Colombia) god who taught people agriculture 155 Emesh Sumerian god of vegetation and agriculture 20 Enkimdu Sumerian god of farming 9 Ernutet Ernutet, Egyptian cobra-headed goddess of the harvest (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3 / organics detected) 53.4 Ezinu Sumerian goddess of grain (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5) 116 Fejokoo Aboh (Igbo) deity who provided the yam(in the image at right, Fejokoo is just right of center) (Close-up Image) 68 Fluusa Oscan (ancient southern Italy) goddess of flowers, counterpart of the Roman goddess Flora. 60 Gaue Germanic goddess to whom offerings are made for the rye harvest (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 80 Geshtin Sumerian goddess of the grapevine and wine (Close-up Image) 80 Ghanan Chanan, Tzeltal god of maize (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 68 Hakumyi Paraguayan, Brazilian and Bolivian spirit helpful in gardening 29.2 Hamori Japanese god, protector of tree leaves (Close-up Image) 60 Hatipowa Indian god of agriculture 40 Haulani Hau-lani, Hawaiian plant goddess (Context Image) 34 Heneb Early Egyptian god of grain, produce and vineyards 39 Homshuk Sierra Popoluca (south Mexico) spirit of corn (maize) 70 Ialonus Ialonus, Celtic (British) god of the cultivated field and of the meadows 16.5 Ikapati Lakapati or Ikapati, Tagalog goddess of the cultivated lands (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5) 50 Inamahari One of a pair (male and female) of Catawba (South Carolina) deities invoked for success at the sowing season 68Inkosazana Inkosazana, the Zulu agricultural goddess40 Insitor Insitor, helper god of Ceres and Roman agricultural deity in charge of the sowing 26 JacheongbiJacheongbi, Korean goddess of agriculture in Jeju who is said to have brought 5 grains to the island.31 Jaja Abkhaz harvest goddess 22 Jarimba Yarimba, Antakirinya (Australia) god of flowers and fruit. 69 Jarovit Jarovit (Yarovit), proto-Slavic god of fertility and harvest, who comes down to the Underworld after each harvest and returns each spring (Close-up Image-1; Closeup Image-2) 66 Juling Orang Asli (formerly also called Sakai people, now a term for separate and distinct group)/ (Malaysia) spirit of the crops (Close-up Image) 20 JumisJumis, Latvian god of fertility of the field.15KahukuraKahukura, Maori god of kumara (sweet potato) crops.6.3 Kaikara Konjo and Banyoro (Uganda) goddess of harvest 72 Kait Hattic goddess of grain (Asia Minor). Defines zero degrees longitude on Ceres 0.4 Kaneki Micronesian (Pohnpei/Ponape Island, Caroline Islands) god of the coconut palm 31.5 Kerwan Hopi spirit of the sprouting maize (Close-up Image) 280 Kiriamma Veddan (Sri Lanka) goddess and provider of food ('milk mother') 18.7 Kirnis Kirnis, Lithuanian spirit and guardian of cherry trees(in the image at right, Kirnis is near the terminator at 4 o'clock from the bright spots) (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2) 115 Kokopelli Pueblo fertility deity who presides over agriculture 34 Kondos Finnish agricultural deity 44 Kumitoga Kumitoga (Kumitonga), Tuamotuan goddess of feasting mats and one of three goddesses of plant life 96 Kupalo Russian (Slavic) god of vegetation and of the harvest (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 26 Laukumate Latvian spirit, 'mother of the fields' 29.7 Liber Liber, Roman god of agriculture (Close-up Image) 23 Lociyo Zapotec (Mexico) deity to whom a ceremony is performed when the first chilli plant is cut 37.8 Lono Lono, Hawaiian god of agriculture (Close-up Image) 20 Meanderi Ngaing (New Guinea) goddess of taro, sugar cane and other foods (Close-up Image) 103 Megwomets Yurok (California) dwarf god of acorns and distributor of vegetal abundance 78.7 Messor Messor, helper god of Ceres and Roman god of harvesting, of cutting of the grain (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 40 Mlezi Name of god Tilo as "Food-Giver" (Tonga tribes of Malawi and Zambia) 41.5 Mondamin Ojibwe corn (maize) god (Lake Superior area, Canada and the United States) (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5) 126 Nawish Acoma guardian of the field 77 Nepen Egyptian god of rain 26.4 Ninsar Ninsar, Sumerian goddess of plants and vegetation 40 Nunghui Canelos Quichua (Ecuador) female spirit of garden soil and pottery clay 22 Occator Occator, helper god of Ceres and Roman agricultural deity of the harrowing. "Region A" in ground-based images (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5; Close-up Image-6; Close-up Image-7; Close-up Image-8; Close-up Image-9; Close-up Image-10; Close-up Image-11; Close-up Image-12) 92 Oltagon Philippine agricultural goddess 28 Omonga Mori (Tomori) rice spirit that dwells in the Moon (Close-up Image) 77 Oxo Candomblé (and Yoruba) god of agriculture (Context Image; Close-up Image - "Water-Ice" Detected; Close-up Image) 10 Peko Seto (southeast Estonia) fertility god 11 Piuku Carib (Barama River, Guyana) god of the manioc 31 Rao Mangarevan god involved in the planting of turmeric (Close-up Image) 12 Ratumaibulu Fijian serpent god of agriculture and the underworld 20 Razeka Arabian tribal god worshipped as the provider of food 38.38 Rongo Rongo, Maori god of cultivation (Close-up Image) 68 Roskva Teutonic goddess who symbolises the ripe fields of harvest 22 Sekhet Egyptian name of Isis as goddess of cultivated lands and fields (Close-up Image) 41 Shakaema Shakaëma, Jivaro (Ecuador and Peru) god of vegetation invoked in the planting and cultivation of bananas 49 Shennong Shennong, Chinese buffalo-headed deity of agriculture 32.5 Sintana Kogi deity who produced fertile black earth (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 61 Tafakula Tongan (Polynesia) goddess invoked for favourable seasons for the crops 34 Tahu Maori (New Zealand) personification of all food 25 Takel Yak Takel, Semang goddess of the tuber harvest (Close-up Image) 21 Tawals Polish god of the fields and of the tilling 8.8 TelepinuTelepinu Hittite god of fertility and vegetation 31 Thrud Scandinavian goddess who "signifies the seed" 7.8 Tibong Land Dayak (Borneo) malevolent spirit who devours and depletes the rice 37 Toharu Pawnee god of food and vegetation (Close-up Image) 87 Tupo An obscure Mangarevan god of disorder (perhaps the same as Tu or Tupa), involved in turmeric planting (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2) 37 Urvara Ancient titular deity of plants (Iranian) and fertile fields (Indian) (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5) 163 Victa Roman goddess of food and nourishment 30 Vinotonus Britonic (Celtic) god of the vine (wine) 140 Xevioso Fon (Benin/Dahomey) god of thunder and fertility 8.5 Xochipilli Xochipilli, Aztec fertility god associated with maize and flowers; patron of music and dance 22.7 Yalode Dahomeyan goddess worshipped by women at harvest rites (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3; Close-up Image-4; Close-up Image-5; Close-up Image-6; Close-up Image-7) 260 Zadeni Zadeni, ancient Georgian god of bountiful harvests (Close-up Image-1; Close-up Image-2; Close-up Image-3) 129.28 Zatik Armenian god of fertility and vegetation 4
Faculae (bright spots)
A few of the brightest faculae were numbered during the approach of the Dawn spacecraft.
Feature Named after Number Location Image Cerealia Facula Cerealia, Ancient Roman festival of the grain goddess Ceres 5 Occator crater (center) Pasola Facula Pasola, rice-planting festival on Sumba Island 5 Occator crater (center) Vinalia Faculae Vinalia, Roman wine festivals 5 Occator crater (east)
Number Location Image 1 Haulani facula 2 Dantu faculae 3 Kupalo facula 4 Probably south of Nawish crater