This July 13, 2015, image of Pluto and Charon is presented in false colors to make differences in surface material and features easy to see (Photo : NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute)
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft showed the first closeup views of the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon system during an epic flyby last July 14. Pluto's largest moon, Charon, which is a frozen body has been mapped out for the first time by New Horizons where scientists have already provided potential names for its geological features.
The mission team already sent an unofficial list of names for the features found on the surface of the moon, Charon that are interestingly based on science fiction characters. Names such as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia from the epic Star Wars films including Darth Vader have features named after them.
Star Trek characters also have a place in the limelight where the New Horizons crew are keen on naming some equally unique geological features and mountains based on the popular sci-fi T.V. series turned into a major blockbuster film franchise. Some of Charon's impact craters can be potentially named after James T. Kirk, Commander Sulu, Lieutenant Uhura and of course, Mister Spock.
Not to be forgotten are famous science fiction writers, Arthur C. Clarke and Octavia Butler who also have a special informal tribute based on the new map of Pluto's biggest moon. Charon's large chasms pockmarking its surface will soon be named after famous spaceships and vessels from the realms of science fiction such as Dr. Who's Tardis.
There are also two massive features on Pluto that will be named after fictional monsters such as H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu and Balrog from Lord of the Rings.
Apart from science fiction, significant features on the dwarf planet will also be named after real life explorers, scientists and vessels.
The geological features' official names on Pluto and Charon will be decided by the International Astronomical Union which is the only legitimate institution in the world that can decide and assign which names are to be used for any object in space. To date, the initial names submitted for Pluto and Charon are still subject for approval.
According to the SETI Institute, there were so many great suggestions from the Our Pluto website and selecting names were made into a real challenge. The proposal is now limited to 10 names for each theme in order not to overwork the IAU nomenclature too heavily.
In the next 15 months, New Horizons will continue to transmit precious data back to Earth collected from its flyby of Pluto and Charon that will include never before seen high resolution images of the distant worlds.
