List of geological features on Charon


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.
, 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:
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. 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.

Terrae

A terra is an extensive landmass or highland, Charon's only highland region is named after a fictional destination.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
Oz TerraLand of OzThe setting for L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz children's novel

Maculae

A macula is a dark spot. Charonian maculae are being named after fictional destinations.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
Gallifrey MaculaGallifreyPlanet in the Doctor Who series
Mordor MaculaMordorLand in the Tolkien mythology

Plana

A planum is a plateau or an elevated plain, Charon's only planum is named after a fictional destination.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
Vulcan PlanumVulcanPlanet in the Star Trek series

Montes

A mons is a mountain. Montes on Charon are being named after authors and artists.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
Butler MonsOctavia E. Butlerscience-fiction author2018-04-11
Clarke MontesArthur C. Clarkescience-fiction author2018-04-11
Kubrick MonsStanley Kubrickfilm director2018-04-11

Chasmata

A chasma is a deep, elongated, steep-sided depression. Charonian chasmata are being named after vessels in fiction.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
Argo ChasmaArgoship in the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, as well as the spaceship in the English translation of the Space Battleship Yamato anime series2018-04-11
Caleuche ChasmaCaleuchemythological ghost ship that travels the seas around the small island of Chiloé_Island, off the coast of Chile, collecting the dead, who then live aboard it forever2018-04-11
Macross ChasmaSDF-1 Macrossspaceship in the Macross anime series
Mandjet ChasmaMandjetsolar boat of the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra2018-04-11
Nostromo ChasmaNostromospaceship in the Alien films
Serenity ChasmaSerenityspaceship in the Firefly series
Tardis ChasmaTARDISspaceship/timeship in the Doctor Who series

Craters

Craters on Charon are named after characters associated with science fiction and fantasy.
FeatureNamed afterDetailsName approved
(Date
AliceAlicecharacter in novels by Lewis Carroll
DorothyDorothy Galeprotagonist of the Oz novels by L. Frank Baum2018-04-11
Kaguya-HimeKaguyahimeprincess of the Moon in Japanese folklore
KirkJames T. Kirkcharacter in the Star Trek series
OrganaLeia Organacharacter in the Star Wars films
NasreddinNasreddinSufi traveller from folklore2018-04-11
NemoCaptain Nemocharacter in novels by Jules Verne2018-04-11
PirxPilot Pirxmain character in short stories by Stanisław Lem2018-04-11
RevatiRevatimain character in the Hindu epic narrative Mahabharata2018-04-11
RipleyEllen Ripleycharacter in the Alien films
SadkoSadkoadventurer who traveled to the bottom of the sea in the medieval Russian epic Bylina2018-04-11
SkywalkerLuke Skywalkercharacter in the Star Wars films
SpockSpockcharacter in the Star Trek series
SuluHikaru Sulucharacter in the Star Trek series
UhuraNyota Uhuracharacter in the Star Trek series
VaderDarth Vadercharacter in the Star Wars films