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 officially approved the first 14 names on 8 August 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 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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Adlivun Cavus | Underworld in Inuit mythology | 8 Aug 2017 |
| 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 |
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.| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. 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 |
| Brinton | Henry Brinton, NASA administrator instrumental in Pluto studies | — |
| Burney | Venetia Burney, who proposed the name of Pluto | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Coradini | Angioletta Coradini, Italian planetary scientist | 27 May 2022 |
| Coughlin | Thomas Boyd Coughlin, American mechanical and space engineer, first project manager of the New Horizons mission | 3 Jan 2020 |
| Edgeworth | Kenneth Edgeworth, Irish astronomer who posited the Kuiper Belt | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Elliot | James L. Elliot, discoverer of Pluto's atmosphere | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Farinella | Paolo Farinella, Italian astronomer | 11 Sep 2024 |
| Gibson | William C. Gibson, Original Science Payload Manager for the New Horizons mission | 8 Jan 2025 |
| Giclas | Henry L. Giclas, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory | 8 Jan 2025 |
| 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 |
| Hardie | Robert H. Hardie, American astronomer, co-discoverer of Pluto's 6.4-day rotation period | 3 Jan 2020 |
| 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 |
| Kiladze | Rolan Kiladze, Georgian astronomer who investigated the dynamics, astrometry, and photometry of Pluto | 30 May 2019 |
| Kowal | Charles T. Kowal, American astronomer who discovered the first centaur | 7 May 2020 |
| Oort | Jan Oort, Dutch astronomer who posited the Oort Cloud | 3 Feb 2021 |
| 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 |
| Simonelli | Damon Simonelli, American astronomer and Pluto geologist | 30 May 2019 |
| Zagar | Damon Francesco, Italian astronomer who carried out early studies of the orbit of Pluto | 5 Aug 2020 |
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.| 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 |
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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Supay Facula | Supay, 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. 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 to bring the playwright Euripides back | — |
| Mpobe Fluctus | Mpobe from Baganda mythology, a hero who willingly enters the underground world | — |
| Pere Porter Fluctus | 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. 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 |
| Djanggawul Fossae | Djanggawul, Yolngu creation figures from the Island of the Dead | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Dumuzi Fossa | Dumuzi, Sumerian fertility god who replaced his wife Inanna in the underworld | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Hermod Fossae | Hermod, son of Odin, who rode the horse Sleipnir into the underworld to retrieve his brother Balder | 25 Sep 2019 |
| Inanna Fossa | Inanna, Sumerian goddess who descended to the underworld | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Kaknú Fossa | Kaknú, legendary Ohlone hero who travelled to the underworld to battle Wiwe. He resembled a peregrine falcon. | 12 Aug 2019 |
| Mwindo Fossae | Mwindo, legendary Nyanga hero who travelled to the underworld | 30 May 2019 |
| Sleipnir Fossa | Sleipnir, the steed Odin rides to the underworld | 8 Aug 2017 |
| 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 |
| Virgil Fossae | Virgil, Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory in The Divine Comedy | 8 Aug 2017 |
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. Names that have been officially approved are labeled as such.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Xolotl Labyrinthus | Xolotl, god of fire, lightning, and death in Aztec mythology | — |
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.| 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 |
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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Chandrayaan Linea | Chandrayaan program, a series of Indian lunar probes | 11 Apr 2023 |
| Hiten Linea | Hiten, the first Japanese lunar probe | 11 Apr 2023 |
| Luna Linea | Luna program, a series of Soviet lunar probes, including the first man-made object to reach the Moon | 11 Apr 2023 |
| Surveyor Linea | Surveyor program, a series of U.S. lunar probes | 11 Apr 2023 |
| Yutu Linea | Yutu, a series of Chinese lunar rovers | 25 Apr 2023 |
| Zond Linea | Zond program, a series of Soviet space probes | 11 Apr 2023 |
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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Cadejo Macula | Cadejo, from Central American folklore | — |
| Hun-Came Macula | One of the two leading Maya death gods from the Popol Vuh | — |
| Meng-po 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 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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Al-Idrisi Montes | Muhammad al-Idrisi, medieval Almoravid explorer | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Baret Montes | Jeanne Baret, first woman to have completed circumnavigation voyage of the globe | 26 Apr 2018 |
| Coleman Mons | Bessie Coleman, American aviator, first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license | 2 Sep 2019 |
| Elcano Montes | Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed Magellan's circumnavigation after his death | 30 May 2019 |
| Hillary Montes | Edmund Hillary, first to scale Mount Everest | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Piccard Mons | Auguste Piccard, conducted measurements of the upper atmosphere using balloons to reach an altitude of 23 kilometers | 30 May 2019 |
| Pigafetta Montes | Antonio Pigafetta, participated in Magellan's circumnavigation and wrote its only first-hand record | 30 May 2019 |
| Tabei Montes | Junko Tabei, first woman to climb both Mount Everest and the Seven Summits | 19 Nov 2019 |
| Tenzing Montes | Tenzing Norgay, first to scale Mount Everest | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Wright Mons | Wilbur and Orville Wright, built and flew the first successful airplane | 30 May 2019 |
| Zheng He Montes | Zheng He, medieval Chinese explorer | 3 Feb 2021 |
Paludes
A palus 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.| 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 |
| 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 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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Lunokhod Planitia | The Lunokhod program, two Soviet lunar rovers | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Ranger Planitia | The Ranger program, a series of unmanned probes sent to the moon in the 1960s | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Rosetta Planitia | The Rosetta mission, the first mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a comet. | 7 May 2022 |
| Sputnik Planitia | Sputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth | 8 Aug 2017 |
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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Belton Regio | Michael J. S. Belton, British astronomer | 22 Sep 2023 |
| 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 |
| Lowell Regio | Percival Lowell, whose ideas about Planet X inadvertently led to Pluto's discovery | 30 May 2019 |
| Safronov Regio | Viktor Safronov, Russian astronomer | 22 Sep 2023 |
| Sharaf Regio | Shafika Gil'mievna Sharaf, Soviet astronomer | 11 Sep 2024 |
| Tombaugh Regio | Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto | 8 Aug 2017 |
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.| 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 |
| Ride Rupes | Sally Ride, American astronaut and physicist, first American woman in space | 2 Sep 2021 |
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.| Feature | Named after | Approval |
| Hayabusa Terra | Hayabusa, the first spacecraft to return a sample of an asteroid | 8 Aug 2017 |
| Pioneer Terra | The Pioneer program, which included the first probes to Jupiter and Saturn | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Vega Terra | The Vega program, which dropped probes onto Venus's surface along with the first close flybys to Comet Halley | 30 May 2019 |
| Venera Terra | The Venera program, first landers on Venus | 30 May 2019 |
| Viking Terra | The [Viking program|Viking program], two Mars orbiters and landers | 3 Feb 2021 |
| Voyager Terra | The [Voyager program|Voyager program], the first probes to visit Uranus, Neptune and interstellar space | 8 Aug 2017 |
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.| 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 |
| 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 |
| Väinämöinen Valles | Väinämöinen, central character of the Finnish national epic the Kalevala, traveled to the underworld | 7 May 2022 |