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:
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. 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. As of December 2025, this list contains 55 geological features, 14 of which are official.
Chasmata A chasma (plural chasmata) is a deep, elongated, steep-sided depression. Charonian chasmata are named after vessels in fiction. 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 Details Approval Argo Chasma Argo Ship in the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, as well as the spaceship in the English translation of the Space Battleship Yamato anime series 2018-04-11 Caleuche Chasma Caleuche Mythological 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 forever 2018-04-11 Macross Chasma SDF-1 Macross Spaceship in the Macross anime series — Mandjet Chasma MandjetSolar boat of the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra 2018-04-11 Nostromo Chasma Nostromo Spaceship in the Alien films — Serenity Chasma Serenity Spaceship in the Firefly series — Tardis Chasma TARDIS Spaceship/timeship in the Doctor Who series —
Craters
Craters on Charon are named after characters associated with science fiction and fantasy. 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 Details ApprovalAhabCaptain AhabProtagonist of Moby-Dick by Herman Melville— Alice Alice Protagonist of two novels by Lewis Carroll —ArrowayEleanor ArrowayProtagonist of Contact by Carl Sagan—BeowolfBeowulfProtagonist of the Old English poem of the same name—CandideCandideProtagonist of the French satire of the same name written by Voltaire—CunegondeCunégondeCharacter in Candide by Voltaire—CoraCoraProtagonist of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead2020-08-05Dinga— Dorothy Dorothy Gale Protagonist of the Oz novels by L. Frank Baum 2018-04-11Fierro—FinnHuckleberry FinnProtagonist of the novel of the same name by Mark Twain—GuildensternGuildensternCharacter in Hamlet by William Shakespeare—JimJimCharacter in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain— Kaguya-Hime Kaguya-Hime Princess from the Moon in a Japanese folk tale —Kersain—KukudmiKakudmiCharacter in the Hindu epic narrative Mahabharata— Kirk James T. Kirk Character in the Star Trek series —LāčplēsisLāčplēsisCharacter in the epic poem of the same name by Andrejs Pumpurs—MadocMadocWelsh prince in folklore who sailed to the Americas in 1170, over 300 years before Columbus— Nasreddin Nasreddin Sufi traveller in folklore 2018-04-11 Nemo Captain Nemo Character in two novels by Jules Verne 2018-04-11 Organa Leia Organa Character in the Star Wars films —PanglossPanglossCharacter in Candide by Voltaire —PanzaSancho PanzaCharacter in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra— Pirx Pilot Pirx Main character in a short story cycle by Stanisław Lem 2018-04-11 Revati Revati Main character in the Hindu epic narrative Mahabharata 2018-04-11RosencrantzRosencrantzCharacter in Hamlet by William Shakespeare— Ripley Ellen Ripley Character in the Alien films — Sadko Sadko Adventurer who traveled to the bottom of the sea in the medieval Russian epic Bylina 2018-04-11 Skywalker Luke Skywalker Character in the Star Wars films — Spock Spock Character in the Star Trek series —SundiataSundiata KeitaFounder and first king of the Mali Empire, also the protagonist of the Malinke epic of the same name— Sulu Hikaru Sulu Character in the Star Trek series —Tarō—TichyIjon TichyMain character in short stories by Stanisław Lem—TintinTintinCharacter in the comic series of the same name by Hergé— Uhura Nyota Uhura Character in the Star Trek series —UtnapishtimUtnapishtimCharacter in the Epic of Gilgamesh— Vader Darth Vader Character in the Star Wars films —
Dorsa A dorsum (plural dorsa) is a ridge. Charon's only dorsum is named after an author. 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 Details Approval McCaffrey Dorsum Anne McCaffrey American-Irish science fiction author, best known for the Dragonriders of Pern series 2020-08-05
Maculae A macula (plural maculae) is a dark spot. Charonian maculae are named after fictional destinations. 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 Details Approval Gallifrey Macula Gallifrey Planet in the Doctor Who series —
Montes A mons (plural montes) is a mountain. Montes on Charon are named after authors and artists. 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 Details Approval Butler Mons Octavia E. Butler Science fiction author 2018-04-11 Clarke Montes Arthur C. Clarke Science fiction author 2018-04-11 Kubrick Mons Stanley Kubrick Film director 2018-04-11
Planitiae A planitia (plural planitiae) is a large plain. Charon's only planitia is named after a fictional destination. 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 Details Approval Vulcan Planitia Vulcan Planet in the Star Trek series —
Regiones A regio (plural regiones) is a region geographically distinct from its surroundings. Charon's only regio is named after a fictional destination. 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 Details Approval Neverland Regio Neverland A fictional island, the destination of Peter Pan and the Darling children in the novel and play by M. Barrie 2026-02-02
Terrae A terra (plural terrae) is an extensive landmass or highland. Charon's only terra is named after a fictional destination. 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 Details Approval Oz Terra Land of Oz The setting for L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz children's novel —
Valles A vallis (plural valles) is valley. Charon's only vallis is named after a vessel in fiction. 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 Details Approval Matahourua Vallis Matahourua Canoe used by the legendary hero Kupe in Māori tradition —
See also Geology of Charon List of geological features on Pluto
Notes
References
External links Official list of Charon's features (IAU) Map of Charon