Wise scientists, identifying new features on the surface of Pluto, are attempting to name one after a Lovecraftian entity.
NASA scientists are now giving unofficial names to some of the things they've spotted -- names they can submit to the International Astronomical Union for official approval. They're sticking with the trend of underworld creatures and gods -- Pluto, after all, was the Roman god of the underworld -- and have tentatively named a previously observed dark, whale-shaped splotch (just to the left of the broken heart) after "Cthulhu," the dark deity invented by author H.P. Lovecraft.
Strictly speaking they should invoke the Fungi of Yuggoth, but this is still a good move.
Even the Washington Post sees wisdom:
A space-whale named Cthulhu? Sounds just weird enough. But if that heart does turn out to be one single feature, we think the New Horizons team should place the Cthulhu moniker there instead -- if you squint a little, you can almost see the octopus-faced ancient god standing in profile, his tentacles flowing in the breeze.
iä! iä! iä!
(praise to Steve Kaye)
I agree any landmarks named for Lovecraftian influences should remain from those sources dedicated to Yuggoth itself. Mi-Go Mountains, Rhan-Tegoth, rivers, Tok'l mines, The Yuggoth Sea, etc. See: Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia pp. 330 http://imgur.com/AmMh6wp
Posted by: Jim Nowlin | July 15, 2015 at 05:03
Excellent, Jim; well said! Revisions are in order.
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | July 15, 2015 at 09:57