Photo: New Dwarf Planet Makemake Marks Shift in Naming Trend

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The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced in July 2008 that a fourth dwarf planet discovered in 2005 (depicted in the above illustration) will be called Makemake (MAH-keh MAH-keh), after a Polynesian creation god.

The choice of moniker reflects astronomy's shift away from christening planets by the names of Greek and Roman gods, experts say.

Illustration courtesy International Astronomical Union

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