Get Ready to Play the Pluto Name Game
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State Department photo/Public Domain(WASHINGTON) — If you’re good at naming people, animals or things, you might want to try your luck with the geological components of the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon, Charon.
NASA and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) would like your input, which is why they’ve set up the OurPluto website.
There’s just one small problem to be aware of before you log on. Scientists don’t know yet what the geophysical features are on Pluto and Charon.
Up until now, the best they’ve come up with is blurry blobs taken by the Hubble telescope.
However, that’s all due to change by mid-July when NASA’s New Horizons is scheduled to fly by Pluto and Charon and photos will be sent back to Earth of craters, crevices, rifts and valleys.
Those will be the geophysical features needing names, which can be selected from a long list of options on Our Pluto’s website. You have until April 7 to participate.
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