List of geological features on Pluto

This is a list of named geological features on Pluto, identified by scientists working with data from the New Horizons spacecraft. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially approved the first 14 names on 8 August 2017 (announced 7 September 2017),[1] with additional names following in each subsequent year, but many of the names listed on this page are still informal.[2] The IAU has determined that names will be chosen from the following themes:[3][4]

  • Names for the underworld from the world's mythologies
  • Gods, goddesses, and dwarfs associated with the underworld
  • Heroes and other explorers of the underworld
  • Writers associated with Pluto and the Kuiper belt
  • Pioneering space missions and spacecraft
  • Scientists and engineers associated with Pluto and the Kuiper belt

A map of Pluto showing the names officially approved by the IAU as of 3 February 2021.

Cavi

A cavus is a hollow or steep-sided depression. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Adlivun CavusUnderworld in Inuit mythology2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Baralku CaviBaralku, the island of the dead in Yolngu culture
Hekla CavusAn Icelandic volcano believed to be the entrance to Hell in medieval European times2018-05-30 · WGPSN

Colles

A collis is a low hill. Plutonian colles are named after spacecraft that operated in Earth orbit. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Astrid CollesThe Astrid program, Sweden's first satellites
Challenger CollesHonors the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Coleta de Dados CollesSatélite de Coleta de Dados, first Brazilian satellite
Columbia CollesHonors the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Soyuz CollesThe Soyuz program; honors the loss of Soyuz 11

Craters

Plutonian craters are named after scientists and other people associated with the study of Pluto. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
BrintonHenry Brinton, NASA administrator instrumental in Pluto studies
BurneyVenetia Burney, who proposed the name of Pluto2017-08-08 · WGPSN
CoradiniAngioletta Coradini, Italian planetary scientist2022-05-07 · WGPSN
CoughlinThomas Boyd Coughlin, American mechanical and space engineer, first project manager of the New Horizons mission2020-01-03 · WGPSN
DrakeMichael Julian Drake, British-American astronomer who chaired the committee that approved the New Horizons mission
EdgeworthKenneth Edgeworth, Irish astronomer who posited the Kuiper Belt2021-02-03 · WGPSN
ElliotJames L. Elliot, discoverer of Pluto's atmosphere2017-08-08 · WGPSN
FarinellaPaolo Farinella, Italian astronomer
GiclasHenry L. Giclas, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory
GuestJohn Guest, British volcanologist and planetary scientist
H. SmithHarlan Smith, astronomer and director of McDonald Observatory
HardawayLisa Hardaway, American aerospace engineer and program manager for the RALPH telescope on New Horizons2020-08-05 · WGPSN
HardieRobert H. Hardie, American astronomer, co-discoverer of Pluto's 6.4-day rotation period2020-01-03 · WGPSN
HarringtonRobert Sutton Harrington, co-discoverer of Charon
HollisAndrew Hollis, British astronomer
KhareBishun Khare, Indian-American chemist specialized in planetary atmospheres, studied tholins extensively2019-05-30 · WGPSN
KiladzeRolan Kiladze, Georgian astronomer who investigated the dynamics, astrometry, and photometry of Pluto2019-05-30 · WGPSN
KowalCharles T. Kowal, American astronomer who discovered the first centaur2022-05-07 · WGPSN
OortJan Oort, Dutch astronomer who posited the Oort Cloud2021-02-03 · WGPSN
PulfrichCarl Pulfrich, German physicist who developed the blink-comparator used to discover Pluto2020-08-05 · WGPSN
SimonelliDamon Simonelli, American astronomer and Pluto geologist2019-05-30 · WGPSN
ZagarDamon Francesco, Italian astronomer who carried out early studies of the orbit of Pluto2020-08-05 · WGPSN

Dorsa

A dorsum is a ridge. Plutonian dorsa are named after underworlds in mythology. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Pandemonium DorsaPandæmonium, the capital of Hell in the poems of John Milton
Tartarus DorsaTartarus, the pit of hell in Greek mythology2017-08-08 · WGPSN

Fluctūs

A Fluctus is a terrain covered by outflow of liquid. Plutonian fluctūs are named after travellers to the underworld. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Dionysus FluctusThe god Dionysus from Greek mythology, who travels to Hades (the underworld) to bring the playwright Euripides back
Mpobe FluctusMpobe from Baganda mythology, a hero who willingly enters the underground world
Pere Porter FluctusPere Porter is the character of a 16th-17th century moral novel who travels to hell
Xanthias FluctusXanthias from Greek mythology, the slave who joins Dionysus on his travel to the underworld

Fossae

A fossa is a ditch-like feature. Plutonian fossae are named after figures associated with underworld myths. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Beatrice FossaBeatrice, visits hell and asks Virgil to guide Dante in Dante's Inferno2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Djanggawul FossaeDjanggawul, Yolngu creation figures from the Island of the Dead2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Dumuzi FossaDumuzi, Sumerian fertility god who replaced his wife Inanna in the underworld2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Hermod FossaeHermod, son of Odin, who rode the horse Sleipnir into the underworld to retrieve his brother Balder2019-09-25 · WGPSN
Inanna FossaInanna, Sumerian goddess who descended to the underworld2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Kaknú FossaKaknú, legendary Ohlone hero who resembled a peregrine falcon, who travelled to the underworld to battle Wiwe2019-08-13 · WGPSN
Mwindo FossaeMwindo, legendary Nyanga hero who travelled to the underworld2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Sleipnir FossaSleipnir, the steed Odin rides to the underworld2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Sun Wukong FossaSun Wukong, the Chinese Monkey King who went to Hell
Uncama FossaUncama, Zulu tale hero who followed a porcupine underground and came upon the village of dead souls2020-01-03 · WGPSN
Virgil FossaeVirgil, Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory in The Divine Comedy2017-08-08 · WGPSN

Lacūs

A lacus is a small plain, derived from the word lake. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5]

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Alcyonia LacusLerna, also known as the Alcyonian Lake, was an entry to the netherworld in Greek mythology.2019-05-30 · WGPSN

Lineae

A linea is an elongated marking. Plutonian lineae are named after space probes.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Chandrayaan LineaChandrayaan program, a series of Indian lunar probes (2008-present)2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Hiten LineaHiten, the first Japanese lunar probe (1990)2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Luna LineaLuna program, a series of Soviet lunar probes (1959-1976), including the first man-made object to reach the Moon2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Surveyor LineaSurveyor program, a series of U.S. lunar probes (1966-1968)2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Yutu LineaYutu, a series of Chinese lunar rovers (2013-present)2023-04-25 · WGPSN
Zond LineaZond program, a series of Soviet space probes (1964-1970)2023-04-11 · WGPSN

Maculae

A macula is a dark spot. Plutonian maculae are named after underworld creatures from fiction and mythology. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Ala MaculaAla, an Igbo god of the underworld
Balrog MaculaBalrog, an underground demon in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien
Cadejo MaculaCadejo, from Central American folklore
Hun-Came MaculaOne of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh
Krun MaculaKrun, the Mandaean overlord of the underworld
Meng-pʻo MaculaMeng Po, the Chinese goddess of forgetfulness after death
Morgoth MaculaMorgoth, a figure of evil in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien
Vucub-Came MaculaOne of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh

Montes

A mons is a mountain. Plutonian montes (mountain ranges) are named after explorers and adventurers. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Al-Idrisi MontesMuhammad al-Idrisi, medieval Almoravid explorer2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Baret MontesaJeanne Baret, first woman to have completed circumnavigation voyage of the globe2018-04-26 · WGPSN
Coleman MonsBessie Coleman, American aviator, first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license2021-09-02 · WGPSN
Elcano MontesJuan Sebastián Elcano, completed Magellan's circumnavigation after his death2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Hillary MontesEdmund Hillary, first to scale Mount Everest (with Tenzing Norgay)2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Piccard MonsAuguste Piccard, conducted measurements of the upper atmosphere using balloons to reach an altitude of 23 kilometers2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Pigafetta MontesAntonio Pigafetta, participated in Magellan's circumnavigation and wrote its only first-hand record2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Tabei MontesJunko Tabei, first woman to climb both Mount Everest and the Seven Summits2019-11-19 · WGPSN
Tenzing MontesbTenzing Norgay, first to scale Mount Everest (with Edmund Hillary)2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Wright MonsWilbur and Orville Wright, built and flew the first successful airplane2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Zheng He MontesZheng He, medieval Chinese explorer2021-02-03 · WGPSN
a.^ Formerly Baré Montes
b.^ Formerly Norgay Montes

Paludes

A palus (literally swamp) is a small plain. Paludes on Pluto are named after historic explorers. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
David-Néel PalusAlexandra David-Néel, Belgian–French explorer, best known for her 1924 visit to Lhasa, Tibet
Hyecho PalusHyecho, Korean traveler and scholar, crossed Asia from China to Arabia and back in 724-7272020-01-02 · WGPSN
Tinné PaludesAlexine Tinne, Dutch explorer in Africa, the first European woman to attempt to cross the Sahara

Plana

A planum is a plateau or high plain. One (Sputnik Planum) was initially identified on Pluto; but it has since been recognized to be a planitia.

Planitiae

A planitia is a low plain, distinct from plana as they are located on lower terrain. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Lunokhod PlanitiaThe Lunokhod program, two Soviet lunar rovers2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Ranger PlanitiaThe Ranger program, a series of unmanned probes sent to the moon in the 1960s2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Rosetta PlanitiaThe Rosetta mission, the first mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a comet.2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Sputnik PlanitiaSputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth2017-08-08 · WGPSN

Regiones

A regio is a region geographically distinct from its surroundings. Plutonian regiones are named after underworld spirits in fiction and mythology, or after scientists associated with the study of Pluto. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Belton RegioMichael J. S. Belton, British astronomer2023-09-22 · WGPSN
Lowell RegioPercival Lowell, whose ideas about Planet X inadvertently led to Pluto's discovery2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Safronov RegioViktor Safronov, Russian astronomer2023-09-22 · WGPSN
Tombaugh RegioClyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto2017-08-08 · WGPSN

Rupēs

A rupes is an escarpment. Plutonian rupēs are named after explorers. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Cousteau RupesJacques Cousteau, undersea explorer
Eriksson RupesLeif Erikson, first Norse explorer of America
Piri RupesPiri Reis, creator of one of the first maps of the New World2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Ride RupesSally Ride, American astronaut and physicist, first American woman in space2021-09-02 · WGPSN

Terrae

A terra is an extensive landmass. Plutonian terrae are named after space probes. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Hayabusa TerraHayabusa, the first spacecraft to return a sample of an asteroid2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Pioneer TerraThe Pioneer program, which included the first probes to Jupiter and Saturn2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Vega TerraThe Vega program, which dropped probes onto Venus's surface along with the first close flybys to Comet Halley2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Venera TerraThe Venera program, first landers on Venus2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Viking TerraThe Viking program, two Mars orbiters and landers2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Voyager TerraThe Voyager program, the first probes to Uranus, Neptune and interstellar space2017-08-08 · WGPSN

Valles

A vallis is a valley. Plutonian valles are named after historic explorers. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

FeatureNamed afterName approved
(Date · Ref)
Heyerdahl VallisThor Heyerdahl, Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer
Hunahpu VallesHunahpu, one of the mythological Maya Hero Twins2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Kupe VallisKupe, legendary discoverer of New Zealand
Lemminkäinen VallesLemminkäinen, a hero of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Väinämöinen VallesVäinämöinen, central character of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld2022-05-07 · WGPSN

See also

References

  1. "Pluto Features Given First Official Names". NASA. 2017-09-07.
  2. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  3. "Informal Names for Features on Pluto". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. "Naming of Astronomical Objects". IAU – International Astronomical Unition. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. Oliver L. White, Jeffrey M. Moore, William B. McKinnon, John R. Spencer, Alan D. Howard, Paul M. Schenk, Ross A. Beyer, Francis Nimmo, Kelsi N. Singer, Orkan M. Umurhan, S. Alan Stern, Kimberly Ennico, Cathy B. Olkin, Harold A. Weaver, Leslie A. Young, Andrew F. Cheng, Tanguy Bertrand, Richard P. Binzel, Alissa M. Earle, Will M. Grundy, Tod R. Lauer, Silvia Protopapa, Stuart J. Robbins, Bernard Schmitt, the New Horizons Science Team (2017). "Geological mapping of Sputnik Planitia on Pluto" (PDF). Icarus. 287: 261–286. Bibcode:2017Icar..287..261W. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.01.011. Retrieved 6 January 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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