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

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]

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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Adlivun Cavus Underworld in Inuit mythology 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Baralku Cavi Baralku, the island of the dead in Yolngu culture —
Hekla Cavus An Icelandic volcano believed to be the entrance to Hell in medieval European times 2018-05-30 · 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Astrid Colles The Astrid program, Sweden's first satellites —
Challenger Colles Honors the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Coleta de Dados Colles Satélite de Coleta de Dados, first Brazilian satellite —
Columbia Colles Honors the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Soyuz Colles The 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Brinton Henry Brinton, NASA administrator instrumental in Pluto studies —
Burney Venetia Burney, who proposed the name of Pluto 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Coradini Angioletta Coradini, Italian planetary scientist 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Coughlin Thomas Boyd Coughlin, American mechanical and space engineer, first project manager of the New Horizons mission 2020-01-03 · WGPSN
Drake Michael Julian Drake, British-American astronomer who chaired the committee that approved the New Horizons mission —
Edgeworth Kenneth Edgeworth, Irish astronomer who posited the Kuiper Belt 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Elliot James L. Elliot, discoverer of Pluto's atmosphere 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Farinella Paolo Farinella, Italian astronomer —
Giclas Henry L. Giclas, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory —
Guest John Guest, British volcanologist and planetary scientist —
H. Smith Harlan Smith, astronomer and director of McDonald Observatory —
Hardaway Lisa Hardaway, American aerospace engineer and program manager for the RALPH telescope on New Horizons 2020-08-05 · WGPSN
Hardie Robert H. Hardie, American astronomer, co-discoverer of Pluto's 6.4-day rotation period 2020-01-03 · WGPSN
Harrington Robert Sutton Harrington, co-discoverer of Charon —
Hollis Andrew Hollis, British astronomer —
Khare Bishun Khare, Indian-American chemist specialized in planetary atmospheres, studied tholins extensively 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Kiladze Rolan Kiladze, Georgian astronomer who investigated the dynamics, astrometry, and photometry of Pluto 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Kowal Charles T. Kowal, American astronomer who discovered the first centaur 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Oort Jan Oort, Dutch astronomer who posited the Oort Cloud 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Pulfrich Carl Pulfrich, German physicist who developed the blink-comparator used to discover Pluto 2020-08-05 · WGPSN
Simonelli Damon Simonelli, American astronomer and Pluto geologist 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Zagar Damon Francesco, Italian astronomer who carried out early studies of the orbit of Pluto 2020-08-05 · 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Pandemonium Dorsa Pandæmonium, the capital of Hell in the poems of John Milton —
Tartarus Dorsa Tartarus, the pit of hell in Greek mythology 2017-08-08 · 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Dionysus Fluctus The god Dionysus from Greek mythology, who travels to Hades (the underworld) to bring the playwright Euripides back —
Mpobe Fluctus Mpobe from Baganda mythology, a hero who willingly enters the underground world —
Pere Porter Fluctus Pere Porter is the character of a 16th-17th century moral novel who travels to hell —
Xanthias Fluctus Xanthias 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Beatrice Fossa Beatrice, visits hell and asks Virgil to guide Dante in Dante's Inferno 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Djanggawul Fossae Djanggawul, Yolngu creation figures from the Island of the Dead 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Dumuzi Fossa Dumuzi, Sumerian fertility god who replaced his wife Inanna in the underworld 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Hermod Fossae Hermod, son of Odin, who rode the horse Sleipnir into the underworld to retrieve his brother Balder 2019-09-25 · WGPSN
Inanna Fossa Inanna, Sumerian goddess who descended to the underworld 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Kaknú Fossa Kaknú, legendary Ohlone hero who resembled a peregrine falcon, who travelled to the underworld to battle Wiwe 2019-08-13 · WGPSN
Mwindo Fossae Mwindo, legendary Nyanga hero who travelled to the underworld 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Sleipnir Fossa Sleipnir, the steed Odin rides to the underworld 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Sun Wukong Fossa Sun Wukong, the Chinese Monkey King who went to Hell —
Uncama Fossa Uncama, Zulu tale hero who followed a porcupine underground and came upon the village of dead souls 2020-01-03 · WGPSN
Virgil Fossae Virgil, Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory in The Divine Comedy 2017-08-08 · 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]

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Alcyonia Lacus Lerna, 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Chandrayaan Linea Chandrayaan program, a series of Indian lunar probes (2008-present) 2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Hiten Linea Hiten, the first Japanese lunar probe (1990) 2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Luna Linea Luna program, a series of Soviet lunar probes (1959-1976), including the first man-made object to reach the Moon 2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Surveyor Linea Surveyor program, a series of U.S. lunar probes (1966-1968) 2023-04-11 · WGPSN
Yutu Linea Yutu, a series of Chinese lunar rovers (2013-present) 2023-04-25 · WGPSN
Zond Linea Zond 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Ala Macula Ala, an Igbo god of the underworld —
Balrog Macula Balrog, an underground demon in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien —
Cadejo Macula Cadejo, from Central American folklore —
Hun-Came Macula One of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh —
Krun Macula Krun, the Mandaean overlord of the underworld —
Meng-pʻo Macula Meng Po, the Chinese goddess of forgetfulness after death —
Morgoth Macula Morgoth, a figure of evil in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien —
Vucub-Came Macula One 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Al-Idrisi Montes Muhammad al-Idrisi, medieval Almoravid explorer 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Baret Montesa Jeanne Baret, first woman to have completed circumnavigation voyage of the globe 2018-04-26 · WGPSN
Coleman Mons Bessie Coleman, American aviator, first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license 2021-09-02 · WGPSN
Elcano Montes Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed Magellan's circumnavigation after his death 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Hillary Montes Edmund Hillary, first to scale Mount Everest (with Tenzing Norgay) 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Piccard Mons Auguste Piccard, conducted measurements of the upper atmosphere using balloons to reach an altitude of 23 kilometers 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Pigafetta Montes Antonio Pigafetta, participated in Magellan's circumnavigation and wrote its only first-hand record 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Tabei Montes Junko Tabei, first woman to climb both Mount Everest and the Seven Summits 2019-11-19 · WGPSN
Tenzing Montesb Tenzing Norgay, first to scale Mount Everest (with Edmund Hillary) 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Wright Mons Wilbur and Orville Wright, built and flew the first successful airplane 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Zheng He Montes Zheng He, medieval Chinese explorer 2021-02-03 · 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
David-Néel Palus Alexandra David-Néel, Belgian–French explorer, best known for her 1924 visit to Lhasa, Tibet —
Hyecho Palus Hyecho, Korean traveler and scholar, crossed Asia from China to Arabia and back in 724-727 2020-01-02 · WGPSN
Tinné Paludes Alexine 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Lunokhod Planitia The Lunokhod program, two Soviet lunar rovers 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Ranger Planitia The Ranger program, a series of unmanned probes sent to the moon in the 1960s 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Rosetta Planitia The Rosetta mission, the first mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a comet. 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Sputnik Planitia Sputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth 2017-08-08 · 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Belton Regio Michael J. S. Belton, British astronomer 2023-09-22 · WGPSN
Lowell Regio Percival Lowell, whose ideas about Planet X inadvertently led to Pluto's discovery 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Safronov Regio Viktor Safronov, Russian astronomer 2023-09-22 · WGPSN
Tombaugh Regio Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto 2017-08-08 · 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Cousteau Rupes Jacques Cousteau, undersea explorer —
Eriksson Rupes Leif Erikson, first Norse explorer of America —
Piri Rupes Piri Reis, creator of one of the first maps of the New World 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Ride Rupes Sally Ride, American astronaut and physicist, first American woman in space 2021-09-02 · 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Hayabusa Terra Hayabusa, the first spacecraft to return a sample of an asteroid 2017-08-08 · WGPSN
Pioneer Terra The Pioneer program, which included the first probes to Jupiter and Saturn 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Vega Terra The Vega program, which dropped probes onto Venus's surface along with the first close flybys to Comet Halley 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Venera Terra The Venera program, first landers on Venus 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Viking Terra The Viking program, two Mars orbiters and landers 2021-02-03 · WGPSN
Voyager Terra The Voyager program, the first probes to Uranus, Neptune and interstellar space 2017-08-08 · 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.

Feature Named after Name approved
(Date · Ref)
Heyerdahl Vallis Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer —
Hunahpu Valles Hunahpu, one of the mythological Maya Hero Twins 2019-05-30 · WGPSN
Kupe Vallis Kupe, legendary discoverer of New Zealand —
Lemminkäinen Valles Lemminkäinen, a hero of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld 2022-05-07 · WGPSN
Väinämöinen Valles Väinämöinen, central character of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld 2022-05-07 · 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "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. ^ a b c d e 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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