Map of Formal and Informal Surface Features on Pluto

This is a list of named geological features on

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of Trans-Neptunian object, bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Su ...

, identified by scientists working with data from the ''

New Horizons ''New Horizons'' is an Interplanetary spaceflight, interplanetary space probe launched as a part of NASA's New Frontiers program. Engineered by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the Southwest Research Institut ...

'' spacecraft. The

International Astronomical Union The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...

(IAU) officially approved the first 14 names on 8 August 2017 (announced 7 September 2017), with additional names following in each subsequent year, but many of the names listed on this page are still informal. The IAU has determined that names will be chosen from the following themes: * Names for the

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of 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.

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.

Craters

Plutonian

crater A crater is a landform consisting of a hole or depression (geology), depression on a planetary surface, usually caused either by an object hitting the surface, or by geological activity on the planet. A crater has classically been described ...

s 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.

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.

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

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.

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. Xolotl Labyrinthus does not appear in later versions of this source. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

Lacūs

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

Lineae

linea ''Linea'' () is a genus of foraminifera belonging to the subfamily Rhabdammininae. It is a monotypic genus containing the sole species ''Linea simplex'' (). It was described in 1989 from samples of foraminifera collected at the Nares Abyssal Pl ...

is an elongated marking. Plutonian lineae are named after

space probe Uncrewed spacecraft or robotic spacecraft are spacecraft without people on board. Uncrewed spacecraft may have varying levels of autonomy from human input, such as remote control, or remote guidance. They may also be autonomous, in which th ...

s. The following is a list of names chosen by the New Horizons team. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

Maculae

macula The macula (/ˈmakjʊlə/) or macula lutea is an oval-shaped pigmented area in the center of the retina of the human eye and in other animals. The macula in humans has a diameter of around and is subdivided into the umbo, foveola, foveal avas ...

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.

Montes

mons Mons commonly refers to: * Mons, Belgium, a city in Belgium * Mons pubis (mons Venus or mons veneris), in mammalian anatomy, the adipose tissue lying above the pubic bone * Mons (planetary nomenclature), a sizable extraterrestrial mountain * Batt ...

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. :a. :b.

Paludes

A palus (literally ) 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.

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.

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.

Rupēs

rupes Rupes (plural ) is the Latin word for 'cliff'. It is used in planetary geology to refer to escarpments on other worlds. , the International Astronomical Union, IAU has named 62 such features in the Solar System, on Mercury (planet), Mercury (17 ...

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.

Terrae

A terra is an extensive landmass. Plutonian terrae are named after

s. The following is a list of names chosen by the ''New Horizons'' team. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.

Valles

vallis Vallis (plural Valles) is Latin for valley, vale; it may refer to the following : ;Places and jurisdictions on Earth * the Swiss canton Wallis * Vallis (see), an ancient city, former bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see in Africa Proconsulari ...

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.

References

External links

Official list of Pluto's features
(

IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...

) *
Map of Pluto
{{Surface features of space objects * Geography of Pluto