Geography_of_Charon

List of geological features on Charon

List of geological features on Charon

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The geological features of Charon, the largest moon of Pluto, are being mapped by scientists using data from the New Horizons spacecraft. The team has given provisional names to the most prominent.

Annotated map of Charon, with IAU-approved names for features as of 2018

As of April 2020, only some of the names have been officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, which has agreed that names for features on Charon should come from the following:[1][2]

  • Destinations and milestones of fictional space and other exploration.
  • Fictional and mythological vessels of space and other exploration.
  • Fictional and mythological voyagers, travellers and explorers.
  • Authors and artists associated with space exploration, especially Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Some features discovered by the New Horizons mission have been given provisional names based on various science fiction and fantasy franchises, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Alien, Firefly, and Macross.[3] These names remain unofficial until accepted by the IAU.

On 11 April 2018, the IAU announced that several of the feature names had been officially recognized.[4]

Terrae

A terra is an extensive landmass or highland. Charon's only highland region is named after a fictional destination.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Dorsa

A dorsum is a ridge. Charon's only dorsum is named after an author.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Maculae

A macula is a dark spot. Charonian maculae are being named after fictional destinations.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Plana

A planum is a plateau or an elevated plain, Charon's only planum is named after a fictional destination.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Montes

A mons is a mountain. Montes on Charon are being named after authors and artists.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Chasmata

A chasma is a deep, elongated, steep-sided depression. Charonian chasmata are being named after vessels in fiction.

More information Feature, Named after ...

Craters

Photo of Charon centered on Ripley Crater. Nostromo Chasma crosses Ripley vertically. Vader is the dark crater at 12:00, Organa Crater is at 9:00, Skywalker Crater at 8:00, Gallifrey Macula and Tardis Chasma at 4:00.

Craters on Charon are named after characters associated with science fiction and fantasy.

More information Feature, Named after ...

See also


References

  1. "Naming of Astronomical Objects". www.iau.org. IAU General Assembly 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. "Official Naming of Surface Features on Pluto and its Satellites". www.iau.org. IAU General Assembly 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. Brown, Andrew R.; Byrd, Deborah (August 2015). "First maps of Charon and Pluto". earthsky.org. EarthSky Communications Inc. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. "Pluto's Largest Moon, Charon, Gets Its First Official Feature Names". www.iau.org. IAU General Assembly 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. Singer, Kelsi. "New Horizons: Peering into Pluto's Past". New Horizons. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Archived from the original on 2017-05-10. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  6. Moore, Jeffrey M.; McKinnon, William B.; Spencer, John R.; Howard, Alan D.; Schenk, Paul M.; Beyer, Ross A.; Nimmo, Francis; Singer, Kelsi N.; Umurhan, Orkan M. (2016-03-18). "The geology of Pluto and Charon through the eyes of New Horizons". Science. 351 (6279): 1284–1293. arXiv:1604.05702. Bibcode:2016Sci...351.1284M. doi:10.1126/science.aad7055. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 26989245. S2CID 206644622.
  7. Grundy, W. M.; et al. (2016). "Surface compositions across Pluto and Charon". Science. 351 (6279). Science 351: aad9189. arXiv:1604.05368. Bibcode:2016Sci...351.9189G. doi:10.1126/science.aad9189. PMID 26989260. S2CID 1247225.

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