List of geological features on Pluto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
Cavi
A cavus is a hollow or steep-sided depression. Plutonian cavi are named after underworlds from fiction and mythology. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team.[3][5] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Adlivun Cavus | Underworld in Inuit mythology | 8 Aug 2017 · 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 | 30 May 2018 · 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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Astrid Colles | The Astrid program, Sweden's first satellites, in turn named after Astrid Lindgren | — |
| Challenger Colles | Honors the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger | 7 May 2022 · WGPSN |
| Coleta de Dados Colles | Satélite de Coleta de Dados, first Brazilian satellite | — |
| Columbia Colles | Honors the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia | 7 May 2022 · 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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Bower | Ernest Clare Bower, American astronomer who calculated one of the first orbits of Pluto | 11 Sep 2024[6] · WGPSN |
| Brinton | Henry Brinton, NASA administrator instrumental in Pluto studies | — |
| Burney | Venetia Burney, who proposed the name of Pluto | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Coradini | Angioletta Coradini, Italian planetary scientist | 27 May 2022 · WGPSN |
| Coughlin | Thomas Boyd Coughlin, American mechanical and space engineer, first project manager of the New Horizons mission | 3 Jan 2020 · WGPSN |
| Edgeworth | Kenneth Edgeworth, Irish astronomer who posited the Kuiper Belt | 3 Feb 2021[7] · WGPSN |
| Elliot | James L. Elliot, discoverer of Pluto's atmosphere | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Farinella | Paolo Farinella, Italian astronomer | 11 Sep 2024 · WGPSN |
| Gibson | William C. Gibson, Original Science Payload Manager for the New Horizons mission | 8 Jan 2025 · WGPSN |
| Giclas | Henry L. Giclas, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory | 8 Jan 2025 · WGPSN |
| 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 | 5 Aug 2020 · WGPSN |
| Hardie | Robert H. Hardie, American astronomer, co-discoverer of Pluto's 6.4-day rotation period | 3 Jan 2020 · WGPSN |
| Hollis | Andrew Hollis, British astronomer | Not Approved |
| Isakowitz | Matthew Isakowitz, Aerospace engineer who significantly contributed to commercial spaceflight, and was an intern working for the New Horizons mission | — |
| Khare | Bishun Khare, Indian-American chemist specialized in planetary atmospheres, studied tholins extensively | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Kiladze | Rolan Kiladze, Georgian astronomer who investigated the dynamics, astrometry, and photometry of Pluto | 30 May 2019[8] · WGPSN |
| Kowal | Charles T. Kowal, American astronomer who discovered the first centaur | 7 May 2020 · WGPSN |
| Oort | Jan Oort, Dutch astronomer who posited the Oort Cloud | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Owen | Tobias Owen, whose pioneering work on the origin and composition of planetary atmospheres and comets was revolutionary, along with playing a critical role in several NASA and ESA missions, such as Viking, Voyager, Galileo, Rosetta, Cassini-Huygens, and Juno. Owen was also the chairperson of the Task Group for Outer Solar System Nomenclature. | — |
| Pulfrich | Carl Pulfrich, German physicist who developed the blink-comparator used to discover Pluto | 5 Aug 2020[9] · WGPSN |
| Simonelli | Damon Simonelli, American astronomer and Pluto geologist | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Zagar | Damon Francesco, Italian astronomer who carried out early studies of the orbit of Pluto | 5 Aug 2020 · 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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Pandemonium Dorsa | Pandæmonium, the capital of Hell in the poems of John Milton | — |
| Tartarus Dorsa | Tartarus, the pit of hell in Greek mythology | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
Faculae
A facula is a bright spot on the surface of a planet. Plutonian faculae are named after underworld creatures from mythology. The following is a list of official and unofficial names chosen by the New Horizons team. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| 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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Beatrice Fossa | Beatrice, visits hell and asks Virgil to guide Dante in Dante's Inferno | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Djanggawul Fossae | Djanggawul, Yolngu creation figures from the Island of the Dead | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Dumuzi Fossa | Dumuzi, Sumerian fertility god who replaced his wife Inanna in the underworld | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Hermod Fossae | Hermod, son of Odin, who rode the horse Sleipnir into the underworld to retrieve his brother Balder | 25 Sep 2019 · WGPSN |
| Inanna Fossa | Inanna, Sumerian goddess who descended to the underworld | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Kaknú Fossa | Kaknú, legendary Ohlone hero who travelled to the underworld to battle Wiwe. He resembled a peregrine falcon. | 12 Aug 2019 · WGPSN |
| Mwindo Fossae | Mwindo, legendary Nyanga hero who travelled to the underworld | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Sleipnir Fossa | Sleipnir, the steed Odin rides to the underworld | 8 Aug 2017 · 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 | 3 Jan 2020 · WGPSN |
| Virgil Fossae | Virgil, Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory in The Divine Comedy | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
Labyrinthi
A labyrinthus is a complex of intersecting valleys or ridges. Plutonian labyrinthi are named after gods of the underworld. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team.[10] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
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] Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.
| Feature | Named after | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Alcyonia Lacus | Lerna, also known as the Alcyonian Lake, was an entry to the netherworld in Greek mythology. | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
Lineae
A linea is an elongated marking. Plutonian lineae 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrayaan Linea | Chandrayaan program, a series of Indian lunar probes (2008-present) | 11 Apr 2023 · WGPSN |
| Hiten Linea | Hiten, the first Japanese lunar probe (1990) | 11 Apr 2023 · WGPSN |
| Luna Linea | Luna program, a series of Soviet lunar probes (1959–1976), including the first man-made object to reach the Moon | 11 Apr 2023 · WGPSN |
| Surveyor Linea | Surveyor program, a series of U.S. lunar probes (1966–1968) | 11 Apr 2023 · WGPSN |
| Yutu Linea | Yutu, a series of Chinese lunar rovers (2013-present) | 25 Apr 2023 · WGPSN |
| Zond Linea | Zond program, a series of Soviet space probes (1964–1970) | 11 Apr 2023 · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Cadejo Macula | Cadejo, from Central American folklore | —[11] |
| Hun-Came Macula | One of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh | —[12] |
| Meng-pʻo Macula | Meng Po, the Chinese goddess of forgetfulness after death | —[12] |
| Morgoth Macula | Morgoth, a figure of evil in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien | —[11] |
| Vucub-Came Macula | One of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh | —[12] |
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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Idrisi Montes | Muhammad al-Idrisi, medieval Almoravid explorer | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Baret Montes | Jeanne Baret, first woman to have completed circumnavigation voyage of the globe | 26 Apr 2018[13] · WGPSN |
| Coleman Mons | Bessie Coleman, American aviator, first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license | 2 Sep 2019 · WGPSN |
| Elcano Montes | Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed Magellan's circumnavigation after his death | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Hillary Montes | Edmund Hillary, first to scale Mount Everest (with Tenzing Norgay) | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Piccard Mons | Auguste Piccard, conducted measurements of the upper atmosphere using balloons to reach an altitude of 23 kilometers | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Pigafetta Montes | Antonio Pigafetta, participated in Magellan's circumnavigation and wrote its only first-hand record | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Tabei Montes | Junko Tabei, first woman to climb both Mount Everest and the Seven Summits | 19 Nov 2019 · WGPSN |
| Tenzing Montes | Tenzing Norgay, first to scale Mount Everest (with Edmund Hillary) | 8 Aug 2017[14] · WGPSN |
| Wright Mons | Wilbur and Orville Wright, built and flew the first successful airplane | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Zheng He Montes | Zheng He, medieval Chinese explorer | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 Jan 2020 · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Lunokhod Planitia | The Lunokhod program, two Soviet lunar rovers | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Ranger Planitia | The Ranger program, a series of unmanned probes sent to the moon in the 1960s | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Rosetta Planitia | The Rosetta mission, the first mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a comet. | 7 May 2022 · WGPSN |
| Sputnik Planitia | Sputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth | 8 Aug 2017 · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Belton Regio | Michael J. S. Belton, British astronomer | 22 Sep 2023[12] · WGPSN |
| Harrington Regio | Robert Sutton Harrington, American astronomer, the co-discoverer of Charon and first person to calculate the Pluto system's mass | 11 Sep 2024[12][15] · WGPSN |
| Lowell Regio | Percival Lowell, whose ideas about Planet X inadvertently led to Pluto's discovery | 30 May 2019[16] · WGPSN |
| Safronov Regio | Viktor Safronov, Russian astronomer | 22 Sep 2023[12][17] · WGPSN |
| Sharaf Regio | Shafika Gil'mievna Sharaf, Soviet astronomer | 11 Sep 2024[12] · WGPSN |
| Tombaugh Regio | Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto | 8 Aug 2017 · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Ride Rupes | Sally Ride, American astronaut and physicist, first American woman in space | 2 Sep 2021 · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Hayabusa Terra | Hayabusa, the first spacecraft to return a sample of an asteroid | 8 Aug 2017 · WGPSN |
| Pioneer Terra | The Pioneer program, which included the first probes to Jupiter and Saturn | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Vega Terra | The Vega program, which dropped probes onto Venus's surface along with the first close flybys to Comet Halley | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Venera Terra | The Venera program, first landers on Venus | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Viking Terra | The Viking program, two Mars orbiters and landers | 3 Feb 2021 · WGPSN |
| Voyager Terra | The Voyager program, the first probes to visit Uranus, Neptune and interstellar space | 8 Aug 2017[18] · 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 | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Heyerdahl Vallis | Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer | — |
| Hunahpu Valles | Hunahpu, one of the mythological Maya Hero Twins | 30 May 2019 · WGPSN |
| Ivanov Vallis | Lyubomir Ivanov, Bulgarian scientist and Antarctic explorer | — |
| Kupe Vallis | Kupe, legendary discoverer of New Zealand | — |
| Lemminkäinen Valles | Lemminkäinen, a hero of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld | 7 May 2022 · WGPSN |
| Väinämöinen Valles | Väinämöinen, central character of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld | 7 May 2022 · WGPSN |