Cthulhu and Balrog: As NASA calls Pluto's districts

    NASA scientists began to analyze the surface of Pluto using the collected data sent by the New Horizons apparatus. A number of interesting geological formations have been discovered on the planet. In the process of working, communicating with each other, experts use informal names for some regions on Pluto.

    Just recently the online voting among Internet users for the best names of objects has ended. At the presentation, NASA announced some of the winners.



    As you can see, the dark area on the left side of the screen is called the Cthulhu Sea, another spot to the right of the heart is the Balrog region. Smaller dark spots were called Meng-P'o, Krun, Ala, Vukub-Kame and Khun-Kame.



    All these are gods or mythical characters from fantastic works.

    For example, Cthulhu is the sovereign of the worlds, sleeping on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but, nevertheless, able to influence the human mind.

    Meng-p'o is the goddess of death from Chinese mythology.

    Balrog is a demonic creature originally mentioned in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.

    In the future, informal names can be approved by submitting a corresponding application to the International Astronomical Union.

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