NASA christens Pluto craters

Pluto was downgraded from a Planet to a Dwarf Planet in 2005, the planet has remained unknown since long, but NASA's New Horizons recently sent detailed and accurate measurements about the dwarf planet. Now, the American space agency NASA has created a long list about what to call the Craters of Pluto.

Studies on the map have been started and names have started being given to the Craters on Pluto. Cathy Olkin, a New Horizons scientist, said in a statement that we humans need names to call things. He said there is a high need to name thing they are working with to make it easy for them to recognize.

The names of the craters will not be official until International Astronomical Union confirms them. Some of the name on NASA's list includes Cavus (deep-sided depression), Chasma (chasm), Colles (small knobs or hills), Dorsa (ridges), Fossa (long, narrow depression), Linea (elongated marking), Macula (dark spot), Mons (mountain), Montes (mountains), Planum (plateau or high plain), Regio (large bright or dark region), etc.

It has been said that the New Horizons team has created a spectacular simulated flyover movie centered in the heart of Pluto's huge 'Heart' at 'Tombaugh Regio'.

The movie shows the stunning views including the incredibly recent ice flows and plains of 'Sputnik Planum' and monumental icy mountain ranges of 'Norgay Montes' and newly discovered 'Hillary Montes.'

The mosaic and movie are compiled from the seven highest resolution images that were captured by NASA's New Horizons LORRI imager during the history making closest approach flyby.

The LORRI images were taken from a distance of 48,000 miles (77,000 kilometers) from the surface of the planet. The agency said the images were taken nearly 1.5 hours prior to the closest approach at 7:49 a. m. EDT on July 14.