List of geological features on Pluto#Craters

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File:Map of Formal and Informal Surface Features on Pluto.svg as of 12 February 2025, along with many informal names in bold and italics.]]

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),{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-features-given-first-official-names|title=Pluto Features Given First Official Names|publisher=NASA|date=2017-09-07}} with additional names following in each subsequent year, but many of the names listed on this page are still informal.{{cite web|url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=PLUTO|title=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature|publisher=International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)|access-date=12 August 2018}} The IAU has determined that names will be chosen from the following themes:{{cite web |title=Informal Names for Features on Pluto |publisher= Jet Propulsion Laboratory |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA19863 |access-date= 8 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Naming of Astronomical Objects |publisher= IAU – International Astronomical Unition |url= https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/ |access-date= 13 August 2017}}

  • 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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Adlivun CavusUnderworld in Inuit mythology2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15676}}
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|15755}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Astrid CollesThe Astrid program, Sweden's first satellites, in turn named after Astrid Lindgren
Challenger CollesHonors the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16087}}
Coleta de Dados CollesSatélite de Coleta de Dados, first Brazilian satellite
Columbia CollesHonors the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16088}}
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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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BowerErnest Clare Bower, American astronomer who calculated one of the first orbits of Pluto2024-09-11 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16342}}
BrintonHenry Brinton, NASA administrator instrumental in Pluto studies
BurneyVenetia Burney, who proposed the name of Pluto2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15680}}
CoradiniAngioletta Coradini, Italian planetary scientist2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16086}}
CoughlinThomas Boyd Coughlin, American mechanical and space engineer, first project manager of the New Horizons mission2020-01-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15867}}
EdgeworthKenneth Edgeworth, Irish astronomer who posited the Kuiper Belt2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15960}}
ElliotJames L. Elliot, discoverer of Pluto's atmosphere2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15681}}
FarinellaPaolo Farinella, Italian astronomer2024-09-11 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16343}}
GibsonWilliam C. Gibson, Original Science Payload Manager for the New Horizons mission2025-01-08 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16366}}
GiclasHenry L. Giclas, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory2025-01-08 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16367}}
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|15924}}
HardieRobert H. Hardie, American astronomer, co-discoverer of Pluto's 6.4-day rotation period2020-01-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15868}}
HollisAndrew Hollis, British astronomer
Isakowitz

|Matthew Isakowitz, Aerospace engineer who significantly contributed to commercial spaceflight, and was an intern working for the New Horizons mission

|—

KhareBishun Khare, Indian-American chemist specialized in planetary atmospheres, studied tholins extensively2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15844}}
KiladzeRolan Kiladze, Georgian astronomer who investigated the dynamics, astrometry, and photometry of Pluto2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15832}}
KowalCharles T. Kowal, American astronomer who discovered the first centaur2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16085}}
OortJan Oort, Dutch astronomer who posited the Oort Cloud2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15961}}
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

|—

PulfrichCarl Pulfrich, German physicist who developed the blink-comparator used to discover Pluto2020-08-05{{·}}{{WGPSN|15925}}
SimonelliDamon Simonelli, American astronomer and Pluto geologist2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15845}}
ZagarDamon Francesco, Italian astronomer who carried out early studies of the orbit of Pluto2020-08-05{{·}}{{WGPSN|15926}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Pandemonium DorsaPandæmonium, the capital of Hell in the poems of John Milton
Tartarus DorsaTartarus, the pit of hell in Greek mythology2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15679}}

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.

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Supay FaculaSupay, spirit who lived in the underworld in Quechua, Aymara, and Incan mythologies

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.{{cite journal|author=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|title=Geological mapping of Sputnik Planitia on Pluto|journal=Icarus|volume=287|pages=261–286|year=2017|doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2017.01.011|url=https://websites.pmc.ucsc.edu/~fnimmo/website/White_Pluto.pdf|access-date=6 January 2017|bibcode=2017Icar..287..261W}} Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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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 Fluctus{{ill|Pere Porter|ca}} 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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Beatrice FossaBeatrice, visits hell and asks Virgil to guide Dante in Dante's Inferno2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15962}}
Djanggawul FossaeDjanggawul, Yolngu creation figures from the Island of the Dead2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15673}}
Dumuzi FossaDumuzi, Sumerian fertility god who replaced his wife Inanna in the underworld2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15963}}
Hermod FossaeHermod, son of Odin, who rode the horse Sleipnir into the underworld to retrieve his brother Balder2019-09-25{{·}}{{WGPSN|15861}}
Inanna FossaInanna, Sumerian goddess who descended to the underworld2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15964}}
Kaknú FossaKaknú, legendary Ohlone hero who travelled to the underworld to battle Wiwe. He resembled a peregrine falcon.2019-08-13{{·}}{{WGPSN|15852}}
Mwindo FossaeMwindo, legendary Nyanga hero who travelled to the underworld2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15833}}
Sleipnir FossaSleipnir, the steed Odin rides to the underworld2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15674}}
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|15869}}
Virgil FossaeVirgil, Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory in The Divine Comedy2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15675}}

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.{{Cite web |date=18 January 2023 |title=Pluto Nomenclature |url=https://asc-planetarynames-data.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pluto.pdf |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504221516/https://asc-planetarynames-data.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pluto.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2024 |website=John Hopkins APL/SwRI}} Xolotl Labyrinthus does not appear in later versions of this source. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Xolotl LabyrinthusXolotl, god of fire, lightning, and death in Aztec mythology

Lacūs

A lacus is a small plain, derived from the word {{Em|lake}}. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Alcyonia LacusLerna, also known as the Alcyonian Lake, was an entry to the netherworld in Greek mythology.2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15843}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Chandrayaan LineaChandrayaan program, a series of Indian lunar probes (2008-present)2023-04-11{{·}}{{WGPSN|16191}}
Hiten LineaHiten, the first Japanese lunar probe (1990)2023-04-11{{·}}{{WGPSN|16192}}
Luna LineaLuna program, a series of Soviet lunar probes (1959–1976), including the first man-made object to reach the Moon2023-04-11{{·}}{{WGPSN|16189}}
Surveyor LineaSurveyor program, a series of U.S. lunar probes (1966–1968)2023-04-11{{·}}{{WGPSN|16191}}
Yutu LineaYutu, a series of Chinese lunar rovers (2013-present)2023-04-25{{·}}{{WGPSN|16198}}
Zond LineaZond program, a series of Soviet space probes (1964–1970)2023-04-11{{·}}{{WGPSN|16190}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Cadejo MaculaCadejo, from Central American folklore
Hun-Came MaculaOne of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh
Meng-p{{wg-apos}}o 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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Al-Idrisi Montes Muhammad al-Idrisi, medieval Almoravid explorer2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15672}}
Baret Montes{{Ref|Note1|a}}Jeanne Baret, first woman to have completed circumnavigation voyage of the globe2018-04-26{{·}}{{WGPSN|15751}}
Coleman MonsBessie Coleman, American aviator, first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license2021-09-02{{·}}{{WGPSN|16036}}
Elcano MontesJuan Sebastián Elcano, completed Magellan's circumnavigation after his death2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15837}}
Hillary MontesEdmund Hillary, first to scale Mount Everest (with Tenzing Norgay)2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15671}}
Piccard MonsAuguste Piccard, conducted measurements of the upper atmosphere using balloons to reach an altitude of 23 kilometers2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15834}}
Pigafetta MontesAntonio Pigafetta, participated in Magellan's circumnavigation and wrote its only first-hand record2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15836}}
Tabei MontesJunko Tabei, first woman to climb both Mount Everest and the Seven Summits2019-11-19{{·}}{{WGPSN|15866}}
Tenzing Montes{{Ref|Note2|b}}Tenzing Norgay, first to scale Mount Everest (with Edmund Hillary)2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15670}}
Wright MonsWilbur and Orville Wright, built and flew the first successful airplane2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15835}}
Zheng He MontesZheng He, medieval Chinese explorer2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15965}}

:a.{{Note|Note1||Formerly Baré Montes}}

:b.{{Note|Note2||Formerly Norgay Montes}}

Paludes

A palus (literally {{Em|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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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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|15870}}
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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Lunokhod PlanitiaThe Lunokhod program, two Soviet lunar rovers2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15967}}
Ranger PlanitiaThe Ranger program, a series of unmanned probes sent to the moon in the 1960s2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15966}}
Rosetta PlanitiaThe Rosetta mission, the first mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a comet.2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16082}}
Sputnik PlanitiaSputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15669}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Belton RegioMichael J. S. Belton, British astronomer2023-09-22{{·}}{{WGPSN|16257}}
Harrington RegioRobert Sutton Harrington, American astronomer, the co-discoverer of Charon and first person to calculate the Pluto system's mass2024-09-11 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16340}}
Lowell RegioPercival Lowell, whose ideas about Planet X inadvertently led to Pluto's discovery2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15838}}
Safronov RegioViktor Safronov, Russian astronomer2023-09-22{{·}}{{WGPSN|16258}}
Sharaf RegioShafika Gil'mievna Sharaf, Soviet astronomer2024-09-11 {{·}}{{WGPSN|16341}}
Tombaugh RegioClyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15668}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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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|15839}}
Ride RupesSally Ride, American astronaut and physicist, first American woman in space2021-09-02{{·}}{{WGPSN|16035}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Hayabusa TerraHayabusa, the first spacecraft to return a sample of an asteroid2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15677}}
Pioneer TerraThe Pioneer program, which included the first probes to Jupiter and Saturn2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15968}}
Vega TerraThe Vega program, which dropped probes onto Venus's surface along with the first close flybys to Comet Halley2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15841}}
Venera TerraThe Venera program, first landers on Venus2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15840}}
Viking TerraThe Viking program, two Mars orbiters and landers2021-02-03{{·}}{{WGPSN|15969}}
Voyager TerraThe Voyager program, the first probes to visit Uranus, Neptune and interstellar space2017-08-08{{·}}{{WGPSN|15678}}

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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

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Heyerdahl VallisThor Heyerdahl, Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer
Hunahpu VallesHunahpu, one of the mythological Maya Hero Twins2019-05-30{{·}}{{WGPSN|15842}}
Ivanov Vallis

|Lyubomir Ivanov, Bulgarian scientist and Antarctic explorer

|—

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|16083}}
Väinämöinen VallesVäinämöinen, central character of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld2022-05-07{{·}}{{WGPSN|16084}}

See also

References

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